led until after 1st, tracked leader, led again after 5th, mistake 2 out, clear last, stayed on well
held up in rear, not fluent 3rd, headway 3 out, went 2nd last, stayed on, not able to trouble winner
mid-division, headway approaching 3 out, one pace last, went 3rd towards finish
chased leaders, not fluent 4th, went 2nd after 3 out until after next, beaten when jumped left and not fluent last
chased leaders, went 2nd brielfy approaching 3 out, no extra next, soon weakened
held up towards rear, ridden when mistake 3 out, no impression, soon weakened, tailed off
took keen hold, with leader, led after 1st, hit 4th, headed after next, ridden approaching 3 out, soon weakened
held up in rear, headway 3 out, went 2nd after 2 out until last, no extra final 100 yards
mid-division, lost place after 2nd, jumped left 4th, weakened approaching 2 out, pulled up before next
The penalised Kaylif Aramis has won at Ffos Las and Uttoxeter since the turn of the year but both of those victories were over further on heavy going and you'd fancy one of these will have too much pace for him back over 2m on quicker going. Kellys Brow defied an absence to score at Ludlow last month and may be improving but he's another who would prefer a bit further while Scorched Son prefers bottomless ground and Changing The Guard hasn't raced since November. Shotavodka has to be of interest after victories at Taunton and Sandown, while Chesil Beach Boy is running into form again but WHITBY JACK is good enough to land this if in the mood and is suited by flat tracks. He has the beating of Scorched Son and Ivor's King on earlier form.
Shotavodka (IRE) 4-7fav (11-9) Hit 1st, made all, clear 2 out, well in command before last, eased final 100 yards, unchallenged, won at Sandown 2m nov hdl (4) gs in Feb beating Lord Protector (11-2) by 7l, 9 ran.
Changing The Guard 25-1 (10-1) Held up towards rear, headway to chase leaders approaching 2 out, weakened betwen last 2, 6th of 15, 6l behind Raya Star (11-12) at Ascot 2m Listed hcp hdl (1) gs in Nov.
Chesil Beach Boy 8-1 (11-6) Held up, took keen hold, closed 2nd, challenged next, led 3 out, jumped right last, headed towards finish, 2nd of 8, nk behind Jumps Road (11-2) at Wincanton 2m hcp hdl 0-130 (3) gs.
Kaylif Aramis 9-4fav (11-2) Held up in rear, headway 4 out, soon chasing leaders, led before last, ran on well, won at Uttoxeter 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-135 (3) hvy beating Key To The West (10-10) by 6l, 10 ran.
Whitby Jack 16-1 (11-0) In touch, pushed along on long run to 2 out, weakened to 7th when pulled up after 2 out, in a race won by First Avenue (10-5) at Sandown 2m lst hcp hdl (0-150) (1) hvy, 19 ran.
Scorched Son (IRE) 16-1 (11-7) Held up in touch, headway to challenge 3 out, led narrowly next, soon ridden, headed last, no extra flat, lost 3rd near finish, 4th of 8, 6l behind Shammick Boy (11-6) at Chepstow 2m hcp hdl 0-135 (3) gs in Feb.
Ivor's King (IRE) 9-2 (10-10) Raced keenly, led, hit 1st, clear with one other, reduced lead 4 out, headed on long run to 2 out, weakened quickly approaching 2 out where went badly right, tailed off, 8th of 11, 37l behind Whitby Jack (10-5) at Kempton 2m hcp hdl 0-140 (3) sft in Jan.
Iolith (GER) 33-1 (11-4) Held up in touch, pushed along 4 out, soon lost place, tailed off and pulled up before 2 out, in a race won by Topolski (11-4) at Aintree 2m nov hdl G2 (1) gd in Apr '11, 13 ran.
Smart Catch (IRE) 33-1 (10-12) Held up towards rear, ridden before last, never a factor, 7th of 9, 22l behind Featherbed Lane (10-11) at Ascot 2m hcp hdl 0-145 (2) gd in Nov '11.
Kellys Brow (IRE) 14-1 (11-11) Mid-division, headway after 6th, mistake 8th, led before 3 out, clear last, stayed on well, won at Ludlow 2m 5f NH Novice Handicap Hurdle (0-130) (4yo+) (3) gs in Feb beating Big Society (11-12) by 2 1/4l, 8 ran.
