tracked leaders, led 4th until next, chased leaders, led again 3 out, joined 2 out, ridden and kept on well from last
led, hit 1st and reminder, headed 4th, led again next, pushed along after 6th, ridden and headed 3 out, pushed along before next, weakened soon after, tailed off
chased leaders, ridden and weakened on long run before 2 out
held up in rear, steady headway on outside tracking leading trio on long run before 2 out, weakened 2 out
chased leaders, blundered and lost place 7th, soon behind, jumped right last, went modest 4th in closing stages
always prominent, challenged in 2nd when hit 2 out, ridden and still every chance between last 2, no extra from last
took keen hold, held up and raced wide, headway tracking leaders 4th, 3rd on long run before 2 out, ridden and no impression soon after 2 out, mistake and stumbled last
Billy No Name loves testing ground as he showed when scoring at Plumpton in February and though he's 8lb higher he'll be better for his reappearance. Bells 'n' Banjos shot up the weights after his victory at Fontwell a year ago and is only slowly coming down while Steel City hasn't really done it on ground this testing. EARLS FORT completed his hat-trick with the minimum of fuss at Plumpton last week for which he has a 7lb penalty. This is a slightly higher grade handicap but most of his rivals are out of sorts or returning after a break so a four-timer beckons. Hughsie should do better when sent back over fences.
Billy No Name (IRE) 16-1 (11-12) Tracked leaders, lost place 5th, mistake and rider lost iron briefly next, in touch 4 out, soon ridden, 5th and weakening when mistake 2 out, 6th of 9, 27 1/4l behind Parish Business (10-13) at Fontwell 2m 6f hcp (3) gs in Oct.
Bells 'n' Banjos (IRE) 11-1 (11-12) Held up mid-division, headway 3 out, ridden before 2 out, soon weakened, 10th of 11, dist behind Kelvingrove (11-8) at Market Rasen 2m 7f hcp (3) gd in May.
La Paimpolaise (FR) 25-1 (10-11) Held up in last pair, outpaced after 3 out, weakened next, 6th of 8, 34 1/2l behind Remiluc (10-11) at Fontwell 2m 2f hcp (3) sft in Nov.
Hughesie (IRE) 15-2 (11-12) Chased leaders, hit 7th, lost place 9th, soon behind and never on terms after, tailed off, 7th of 8, dist behind Mezendore (11-4) at Bangor 2m 4f hcp (3) sft in Mar.
Steel City 7-2 (11-5) Chased winner until approaching 3 out where jumped right, weakening when blundered next, 7th of 8, 24l behind Twentytwo's Taken (11-12) at Exeter 2m 1f hcp (3) hvy in Mar.
Earls Fort (IRE) 11-10fav (10-13) Led until appraoching 2nd, chased leaders, 2nd 9th, led going well before 2 out, clear before the last, easily, won at Plumpton 2m 5f hcp (4) gd in Nov beating Letemgo (10-11) by 3 1/2l, 7 ran.
Darwins Theory (IRE) 8-1 (10-13) Chased leading pair, pushed along before 3 out, hit 2 out, no impression when lost modest 3rd between last two, weakened run-in, 6th of 8, 8l behind Twentytwo's Taken (11-12) at Exeter 2m 1f hcp (3) hvy in Mar.
