travelled well, tracked leaders, led 7th, soon headed, led again 4 out, pushed out flat, comfortably
tracked leader, challenged 3rd, not fluent 5th, led after next, headed 7th, soon led again, headed 4 out, held by winner flat, kept on
tracked leaders, led 7th, ridden after 4 out, no extra from 2 out
jumped left, held up towards rear, hampered 1st, headway after 4 out, 3rd from 3 out, stayed on same pace flat
led, not fluent and joined 3rd, ridden when headed after 6th, weakened before 4 out, pulled up after
towards rear, jumped right and bumped rival 1st, slow and pecked next, last 5th, behind next, pulled up after
held up in rear, closed before 7th, outpaced 4 out, soon weakened, tailed off
There probably isn’t a lot between DR SANDERSON and Smackwater Jack at the weights but runner-up Khage has boosted the form of the former’s Ffos Las victory in February. Paul Nicholls’ charge won over 2m4f at Worcester in the autumn so the return to a longer trip won’t be a problem. Richard Johnson’s mount is a course and distance winner, however, and will find this easier than the Grade 3 handicap he contested at Sandown last month. Rapper has also won over track and trip but will need to find improvement to double his tally and is more exposed.
Dr Sanderson (IRE) 2-1 (11-7) Tracked leader, every chance last, led closing stages, all out, won at Ffos Las 2m (3) gs in Feb beating Khage (11-7) by 3/4l, 7 ran.
Rapper 16-1 (11-8) In rear, pushed along after 5th, struggling from 7th, 6th of 8, 24l behind Pistol Whipped (11-2) at Fakenham 2m 4f (3) gs in Feb.
Smackwater Jack (IRE) 16-1 (11-3) Always rear-division, 12th of 18, 18 1/4l behind Third Wind (11-5) at Sandown 2m 4f hcp (1) sft in Mar.
Fontley House (IRE) 4-1 (10-12) Raced wide, prominent until 3rd, tracked leaders, pushed along and outpaced 4 out, tailed off when pulled up before last, at Bangor-on-Dee 2m 7f (4) gs in Nov.
Quasi (IRE) 40-1 (11-2) Held up, always in rear, struggling after 4 out, tailed off before next, last of 10, dist behind Newtide (11-2) at Haydock 2m 7f mdn (4) sft in Dec.
Spanish Starling 50-1 (11-0) Held up towards rear, headway over 5f out, ridden over 2f out, weakened over 1f out, last of 6, 13 3/4l behind Dans Le Vent (11-2) at Ludlow 2m (4) gd in Apr.
Jaunty Velocity 66-1 (10-10) In rear, mistake 8th, plugged on before last, no impression, 6th of 8, 25 3/4l behind Fontsanta (11-3) at Hereford 3m 2f (4) gs in Mar.
