disputed third until dropped to fourth before 4 out, headway to chase leader next, driven to challenge after last, stayed on well but just failed
midfield until headway into second 4 out where slightly awkward, travelled well until ridden after 3 out, faded out of contention after 2 out
midfield early but dropped to rear 4th and began to lose touch, still last 3 out but made some headway late on
led, two lengths clear after 3 out, ridden and jumped last well, kept on and just held on
raced in second until coming under pressure before 4 out, pushed along but began to weaken before next and quickly faded out of contention
held up in rear, headway to press for second approaching 2 out, could only stay on at same pace after last
NonRunner
Pay The Piper managed to land a hat-trick when successful at Wetherby despite making several mistakes. He may not get away with so many blunders today raised 8lb and SERIOUS EGO (NAP) is preferred. A stumble on landing cost the latter when unseating at Kelso last time but he’d won nicely at Haydock before that and makes more appeal than stablemate Big Bad Bear. The latter is reunited with Brian Hughes having struggled in Listed company last time while Mick Maestro’s rein broke in the Imperial Cup at Sandown a week ago though he remains 13lb higher than when last successful.
Pay The Piper (IRE) 2-1fav (11-7) Not fluent at times, close up, tracked leader 3 out, joined leader next, hit last and lost momentum, rallied to lead close home, won at Wetherby 2m hcp (3) gs in Mar beating Shantou Express (11-12) by nk, 9 ran.
Mick Maestro (FR) 12-1 (11-1) Mid-division when rein broke and taken out of race after 2nd, pulled up, at Sandown 2m hcp (1) sft in Mar.
Big Bad Bear (IRE) 33-1 (11-1) Mistake 1st, towards rear, ridden after 3 out, never on terms, 14th of 20, dist behind Boreham Bill (11-0) at Kempton 2m 5f hcp lst (1) sft in Jan.
Theatre Legend 8-1 (11-4) Tracked leader, ridden and lost place after 4 out, in rear and virtually pulled up before 3 out, no extra, 5th of 7, dist behind Wild Max (11-11) at Doncaster 2m 1f hcp (2) gs in Dec.
Gerolamo Cardano 12-1 (11-10) Prominent, ridden before 3 out, weakened from 2 out, 6th of 8, 21l behind Eddiemaurice (11-6) at Ludlow 2m hcp (3) hvy in Feb.
Ilaya (FR) 14-1 (10-7) Held up, hampered by faller 3 out, soon detached, 6th of 7, dist behind Mick Maestro (11-0) at Catterick 2m hcp (3) sft in Dec.
Serious Ego (GER) 7-2 (10-13) Held up towards rear, mistake and unseated rider 4th, at Kelso 2m hcp (3) sft in Feb.
