chased leading pair, went 2nd 6th, led after 7th, headed approaching and hit 4 out, chased winner until weakened next, tailed off
chased leader, led 6th, headed after next and dropped to 4th at 8th, rallied to 3rd again on inside 3 out, hampered on bend soon after and ridden, no impression before next
behind, unseated rider 7th
held up in last pair, headway 7th went 3rd next, went 2nd 3 out, ridden and no impression before last
led, mistake stumbled and headed 6th, lost place and dropped to rear, not run on after 7th, tailed off
chased leaders, went close 2nd after 7th, led approaching 4 out, ridden and in command before last, stayed on well (no time taken)
Question marks against all six in a trappy affair. Blue Hills is hard to fancy from out of the handicap, Knock Boy is finding winning a heartache despite his consistency and Watergate and Sawago both arrive having pulled up last time. However, both had previously been in good heart previously which merely serves to muddy the waters further. Al Amaan is consistent too but houses a 0-17 career record which leaves us with Russian Conquest who has it to do under topweight and was slightly disappointing last time. It's all a question of who puts their best foot forward on the day and WATERGATE is forgiven his latest disappointment and taken to continue what had previously been a reasonably progressive profile over fences.
Russian Conquest 15-8 (11-8) Led, headed 2nd, chased leader and mistake next, ridden 4 out, led next, ridden and headed on landing 2 out, kept on one pace and lost 2nd close home, 3rd of 5, 7l behind Nozic (11-5) at Plumpton 2m 1f hcp ch 0-110 (4) gs in Mar.
Watergate (IRE) 11-10fav (11-12) Tracked leader, raced on outside, not fluent 1st, led 8th, headed next, weakened 3 out, mistake 2 out, pulled up before last, in a race won by Junior Jack (11-10) at Huntingdon 2m 4f hcp chs 0-105 (4) sft in Mar, 6 ran.
Al Amaan 4-1 (11-0) Chased leaders, hard ridden to challenge 2 out, kept on under pressure to go 2nd after last, never reached winner, 2nd of 4, 3l behind Russian Conquest (11-5) at Leicester 2m nov hcp chs 0-110 (4) fm in Dec.
Sawago (FR) 9-2fav (11-7) Chased leaders, lost place when mistake 10th, behind and struggling 13th, tailed off 16th, pulled up soon after next, in a race won by Rivermouth (10-7) at Huntingdon 3m hcp chs 0-100 (5) gs in Mar, 9 ran.
Knock Boy (IRE) 5-6fav (10-11) Tracked leading pair, tracked winner going well before 2 out, ridden between last 2, trying to close when hit last and gave up, 2nd of 5, 2 3/4l behind Launde (11-1) at Folkestone 2m hcp chs 0-95 (5) gd in Feb.
Blue Hills 20-1 (9-11) Prominent, hit 9th, challenged 4 out, ridden after 3 out, no impression on winner last, stayed on same pace, 2nd of 9, 4 1/2l behind Kap West (10-3) at Hereford 2m 3f hcp chs 0-95 (5) gd in Mar.
