took keen hold, held up, steady headway approaching 6th, left 3rd 4 out, went 2nd after 3 out, weakened before next
chased leaders, ridden approaching 3 out, stayed on to modest 3rd next
held up, smooth headway approaching 6th, tracked leader and going well when fell 4 out
held up towards rear, ridden before 6th, plugged on from 3 out, never on terms
chased leaders, mistake 2nd, left 2nd 4 out, led 3 out, strongly pressed flat, held on gamely close home
held up in rear, headway when hampered 4 out, chased leaders 3 out, went 2nd before next, strong challenge and upsides flat, held last strides
chased leader until not fluent 2nd, soon lost place, struggling in 5th after 4 out, soon weakened, tailed off
racced wide, chased leaders, mistake 5th, ridden next, weakened 4 out, went badly left next, tailed off
prominent, went 2nd after 2nd, led 6th, ridden and headed 3 out, weakened soon after
led, mistake and headed 6th, weakened before 4 out, tailed off when pulled up after next
Tony Carroll won this a year ago and has acquired Lucky Score since she landed a very weak mares' maiden at Cartmel in August. She looks to have too much weight and SPEEDY DIRECTA should prove difficult to beat. Brendan Powell's charge was back on his favoured fast ground when gaining his seventh victory over hurdles at Taunton on Monday and a 7lb penalty shouldn't prevent a quick follow-up. Zouti made his handicap debut over 3m2f at Plumpton and was in touch for much of the way so this shorter trip should be to his advantage. Lonesome Boatman is better known as a chaser and found 2m1f too short when reverting to hurdles at Hereford last time when staying on at the finish.
Lucky Score (IRE) 15-2 (10-5) Held up, not fluent 7th, closed 3 out, led last, soon clear, won at Cartmel 2m 6f mdn hdl (5) gd in Aug '10 beating Broadway Allstar (10-12) by 13l, 5 ran.
Rothres (FR) 14-1 (11-2) Led, headed 5 out, every chance before 2 out, weakened before last, 8th of 14, 13l behind Aviso (11-8) at Warwick 2m hcp hdl 0-100 (5) gd in Feb.
Speedy Directa (GER) 7-4fav (10-9) Tracked leaders, led 4 out, hard ridden after 2 out, hit last, soon strongly challenged, stayed on gamely, won at Taunton 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-95 (5) gf beating Bon Spiel (10-13) by 1/2l, 6 ran.
Hill Forts Gloria (IRE) 8-1 (10-9) Disputed lead, led 5th, went right next, headed 9th, chased leaders until weakened before 3 out, tailed off, 9th of 12, well behind Schism (11-5) at Plumpton 2m 5f mrs hcp hdl (0-105) (4) gs in Feb.
Zouti (FR) 16-1 (10-7) Towards rear, some headway approaching 10th, went 4th at 11th, mistake 3 out, went modest 3rd before next, 3rd of 14, 18l behind Velator (11-7) at Plumpton 3m 1f hcp hdl 0-95 (5) gs in Feb.
Lonesome Boatman (IRE) 20-1 (9-7) Held up in rear, headway on wide outside before last, went 4th flat, finished well and going on close home, 4th of 17, 8l behind Acapulco Bay (10-1) at Hereford 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-95 (5) sft.
Thunder On 100-1 (10-12) Chased leader until after 4th, weakened and soon struggling in rear, mistake 9th, tailed off, 6th of 8, well behind Aikideau (11-11) at Plumpton 2m 5f nh nov hdl (4) gs in Jan.
Daddy'slittlegirl 150-1 (10-9) Prominent, hit 4th, ridden and lost place 6th, tailed off, 11th of 12, well behind All Annalena (11-2) at Ludlow 2m 5f mdn hdl (5) gs in Jan.
Tarkesar (IRE) 33-1 (9-9) Held up in touch, weakened after 3 out, 7th of 13, 41l behind Midnight Spirit (10-13) at Towcester 2m sell hcp hdl 0-95 (5) gs in Feb.
Gilded Youth 22-1 (9-7) Chased leaders, quickly weakened after 3 out, soon pulled up, in a race won by Midnight Spirit (10-13) at Towcester 2m sell hcp hdl 0-95 (5) gs in Feb, 13 ran.
Carbon Print (USA) 50-1 (10-11) Held up in rear, some headway when hampered 2 out, never dangerous, 5th of 10, 24l behind Santo Thomas (11-12) at Southwell 2m hcp hdl 0-95 (5) gs in Feb.
