chased leaders, driven to challenge 2 out, stayed on same pace
chased leaders, lost place 3 out, soon behind, pulled up before 2 out
led until 4th, mistake next, under pressure 8th, weakened next, pulled up before 3 out
prominent, led 4th, haard driven after 2 out, stayed on strongly
tracked leaders, effort after 3 out, weakened quickly next, tailed off
held up in rear, weakened 8th, blundered 4 out, soon pulled up
held up towards rear, headway 3 out, chased leaders next, kept on well closing stages
held up towards rear, headway 3 out, ridden to challenge next, soon no impression
in touch, headway 3 out, soon chasing leaders, weakened last
Avithos finally opened his account over hurdles with a victory over track and trip but is upped in class off a 10lb higher mark. At the other end of the handicap, Midnight Cowboy went close again at Doncaster having won at the same track earlier, while Milord has been thereabouts on soft ground recently as he looks to end a long losing run. BISTOURI D’HONORE has won a novice hurdle but ran below par sent up to Musselburgh for his handicap debut and losing a shoe during the race. Paul Nichols’ charge gets another chance in this to prove his latest running all wrong.
Midnight Cowboy 3-1fav (11-11) Held up mid-division, headway before 3 out, every chance last, kept on and held towards finish, 2nd of 13, 1l behind Bodega (11-1) at Doncaster 3m hcp (4) gd in Jan.
Orchard Boy (IRE) 16-1 (11-8) Led until after 6th, weakened before normal 3 out, 7th of 12, dist behind Allee Bleue (11-12) at Leicester 2m 4f hcp (3) hvy in Feb.
Lady Of Longstone (IRE) 40-1 (10-1) Led until 2nd, chased leaders, ridden and weakened after 9th, soon behind, pulled up before next, at Exeter 2m 7f hcp (2) sft in Feb.
Milord (GER) 10-1 (11-12) Led, edged left after 3 out, headed next, stayed on same pace and edged left flat, 3rd of 11, 5 3/4l behind Theatrebar (12-2) at Ludlow 2m 5f hcp (4) sft in Feb.
Aunty Ann (IRE) 7-1 (10-13) Raced wide, held up in last pair, headway chasing leaders approaching 4th, pushed along after 6th, weakened quickly and pulled up before 3 out, at Exeter 2m 3f hcp (3) gs in Feb.
Bistouri D'honore (FR) 11-4fav (11-12) Tracked leaders, keen, effort 3 out, soon ridden and lost place, 6th of 9, 29l behind Sammy B (11-5) at Musselburgh 3m hcp (4) gd in Feb.
Plan Again (IRE) 11-4cfav (11-8) Close up, ridden and every chance 4 out, weakened 2 out, tailed off, last of 5, dist behind Honourable Gent (10-3) at Carlisle 2m hcp (3) gd in May.
Avithos 8-1 (11-0) Chased leaders, led after 3 out, came clear before next, easily, won at Taunton 3m hcp (5) gd in Feb beating Viking Mistress (11-5) by 4l, 17 ran.
The Greenvet (IRE) 100-1 (11-2) With leader, lost place after 3 out, weakened from next, 14th of 17, 33 1/4l behind Dreamcatching (10-7) at Wincanton 1m 7f (4) sft in Feb.
