tracked leader, effort 3 out, soon no impression, modest 3rd
led until 5 out, soon weakened, modest 4th
tracked leader, led 5 out, soon headed, weakened next, pulled up 2 out
chased leaders, hard driven approaching 10th, challenging 5 out, led before next, hard pressed from last, held on gamely, all out
held up in touch, headway under pressure after 4 out, chased leaqder next, ridden to challenge last, stayed on under pressure, no chance with winner
Course winner Delgany Gunner appears to be firmly back in the handicapper's grip after his latest fifth at Fontwell while Persian Run is probably best watched on his first start since early December. Ffos Las second Whispering Jack is tumbling down the weights but still 6lb higher than his last win while Dot Or Feather has been well beaten in his last two starts. KIRKHAMMERTON hasn't won for a while but is well treated as a result and gave notice his turn wasn't far away over C&D 11 days ago. This looks his big chance to put the record straight.
Whispering Jack 5-1 (11-9) Held up in touch, not fluent 12th, went 3rd approaching 4 out, hamnpered and left 2nd 2 out, no impression on winner, 2nd of 6, 9l behind Harouet (11-12) at Ffos Las 3m hcp chs 0-120 (4) gs.
Persian Run (IRE) 11-2 (11-4) Chased leaders, effort approaching 4 out, weakened after next, 4th of 5, 16l behind Key Cutter (11-12) at Leicester 2m 7f hcp chs 0-120 (4) fm in Dec.
Dot Or Feather (IRE) 9-2 (10-4) Held up, headway on outside 6th, closed 13th, mistake 15th, ridden after 4 out, weakened quickly before 2 out, tailed off, 6th of 10, well behind Global Flyer (11-9) at Huntingdon 3m hcp chs 0-125 (3) gs in Apr.
Delgany Gunner 5-1 (11-8) Chased leaders, ridden before 3 out, weakened next, 5th of 9, 23l behind Cypress Grove (11-12) at Fontwell 3m 2f hcp chs 0-95 (5) gs.
Kirkhammerton (IRE) 4-1 (10-2) Held up, closed 6th, went 2nd approaching last and closed, ridden to challenge flat, just held, 2nd of 7, nk behind Tuskar Rock (11-3) at Uttoxeter 3m hcp chs 0-115 (4) gd.
