unruly start, chased leaders, weakened 3 out, pulled up before next
led to 2nd, tracked leader until led next, clear 6th, reduced lead approaching 3 out, driven and headed 2 out, no extra between final 2
chased leaders, led 2nd to next, chased leader, ridden and weakened soon after 3 out, 4th and beaten when jumped right last
held up in touch, headway approaching 3 out, driven upsides and blundered 2 out, chased winner after, no impression flat
in rear, struggling 5th, soon tailed off, pulled up approaching 2 out
always behind, struggling 6th and soon lost touch
held up in touch, mistakes 4th and 6th, headway to track leaders approaching 3 out, led 2 out, driven out flat
keen hold tracking leaders, ridden 6th, weakened approaching next
A pretty inauspicious start to the day but someone has to win it and we will side with Monets Masterpiece ahead of Cockatoo. Gary Moore's youngster didn't seem too happy over a longer trip when last seen over timber but has put in a few decent efforts on the all-weather since and now dropped in trip, he looks the call in this open contest. The stable have had a good Easter weekend so far with two winners on Saturday and Monets Masterpiece is taken to extend that sequence. Cockatoo has carried plenty of market confidence on his runs over hurdles so far but has been soundly beaten on all four starts which makes you wonder whether that pattern may continue once again. Sunley Song now has the same trip and ground conditions that seemed to suit so well when winning at Huntingdon in September and after a mini-break could go well with Timmy Murphy aboard, whilst at a bigger price Wooly Bully could go well. His saddle slipped on debut (unfancied 33/1 chance) so that run can be discarded, however for the winner we will return to Monets Masterpiece in the hope that this drop back in trip can see him get his head in front.
Birkside 16-1 (10-7) Mid-division until weakened 3 out, behind when pulled up 2 out in race won by Pauillac (11-3) at Sandown 2m 4yo nov hdl (3) hvy in Jan, 11 ran.
Cockatoo (USA) 7-2 (11-0) Mid-division, ridden and headway approaching 2 out, one pace from last, 5th of 14, 20l behind French Opera (11-0) at Taunton 2m 1f 4yo mdn hdl (4) gd in Mar.
James Street (IRE) 33-1 (10-7) Held up, hit 2nd, no chance from 4th, 5th of 7, 20l behind Paradi (11-4) at Sandown 2m 4yo nov hdl (3) hvy in Feb.
Monets Masterpiece (USA) 11-4fav (10-12) Chased leaders, ridden approaching 6th, weakened after 3 out, 5th of 14, 22l behind Dream Witness (10-5) at Fontwell 2m 2f 3yo mdn hdl (5) gf in Sept.
Mucho Loco (IRE) 100-1 (10-7) Always towards rear, 12th of 14, well behind Hobbs Hill (11-4) at Folkestone 2m 1f nov hdl (4) gs in Jan.
Sunley Song 25-1 (10-8) Towards rear, headway 4th, ridden and weakening when hampered on bend approaching 7th, 9th of 11, well behind Hi Dancer (10-13) at Hereford 2m 1f cnd nov hcp hdl (4) sft in Dec.
Woolly Bully 33-1 (10-3) Towards rear, saddle slipped and pulled up at the 5th in race won by Shouldhavehadthat (11-2) at Ascot 2m 3f mdn hdl (3) gd in Mar, 15 ran.
Wicked Lady (UAE) 33-1 (10-4) Keen, tracked leaders, well beaten when unseated rider at the last in race won by Annie's Answer (11-2) at Huntingdon 2m mrs mdn hdl (4) sft in Feb, 17 ran.
