with leader, led after 5th, headed before 6 out, weakening when blundered 4 out, left remote 3rd and stumbled 3 out
led, headed after 5th, led again before 6 out, about 10 lengths clear when fell 3 out
chased leaders early, soon behind and pushed along, soon detached, reminders halfway, headway before 2 out, ridden to lead last, kept on well run-in
in rear, headway from 7 out, blundered 4 out, soon ridden and weakened
in touch, went 2nd before 5 out, ridden and blundered 3 out when left in lead, headed last, no extra
towards rear, soon in rear and outpaced, tailed off and pulled up before 7 out
towards rear, pushed along after 5 out, soon weakened, soon pulled up
Silent Steps had just taken the lead when left clear a couple of fences from home over track and trip last week. She’s penalised 7lb but is still preferred to Dee Star, who could only manage fourth back in a handicap last time having won a maiden hunters’ chase before that. VIRNON hasn’t won since scoring over these fences in 2018 but posted his best effort for some time when runner-up here last time. He gets the vote to go one better now back on a winning mark. The Ogle Gogle Man wouldn’t want anymore rain but makes more appeal than Bassarabad and Shanty Alley if the ground is no worse than soft.
Bassarabad (FR) 9-2 (11-3) Behind, jumped slowly, struggling after 6th, soon detached, tailed off when pulled up before 6 out, at Uttoxeter 3m hcp (4) gs in Oct.
Shanty Alley 9-2 (11-4) Chased leaders, weakened before 4 out, tailed off, 6th of 8, dist behind Very First Time (11-12) at Doncaster 3m hcp (4) gs in Jan.
Silent Steps (IRE) 11-1 (11-12) Prominent, ridden and every chance when left clear 2 out, ran on, won at Southwell 2m 4f hcp (4) sft in Mar beating Nesterenko (12-3) by 9l, 7 ran.
The Ogle Gogle Man (IRE) 4-1jfav (11-9) Chased leaders, hit 3rd and lost place, ridden and struggling 4 out, soon weakened, 9th of 10, dist behind Alminar (12-0) at Chepstow 3m hcp (4) hvy in Jan.
Inch Lala (IRE) 7-1 (11-0) Led until 4th, chased leader, not fluent 8th, lost 2nd before 9th, weakened before next, tailed off and pulled up before 3 out, at Taunton 2m 6f hcp (4) hvy in Jan.
Virnon 5-1 (10-13) Close up, led 4 out, headed next, ridden and stayed on, 2nd of 5, 1 1/2l behind Eclair De Guye (11-10) at Southwell 3m hcp (4) sft in Mar.
Dee Star (IRE) 2-1fav (11-12) Behind, jumped slowly 2nd, not fluent 14th, soon driven, headway under pressure last, ridden and stayed on to take 4th closing stages, never nearer, 4th of 13, 6 1/4l behind Dutch Canyon (10-6) at Cartmel 3m 1f hcp (5) gd in Jun.
