rein snapped and chased leader after 2nd, pulled up before next
pulled hard, held up, hit 1st, headway after 3rd, ridden after 3f out, weakening when mistake 2f out
held up towards rear, behind from 5th,
held up towards rear, some headway when mistake 5th, weakened before next
chased leaders, chased winner 3f out, soon pushed along, no impression from 2f out
held up, not fluent 1st, headway approaching 5th, ridden after 3f out, hung left before 2f out, 3rd when not fluent last, one pace
held up, not fluent 4th, always in rear
held up, jumped slowly 2nd, not fluent 4th, always behind
held up towards rear, headway when jumped left 4th, weakened 2f out
chased leader until after 2nd, chased leaders, ridden from 3f out, weakening when hit last
raced freely, led, not fluent 2nd, left clear next, hit 4th, headed before 3f out, soon weakened
mid-division, headway after 3rd, chased leader before next, led approaching 3f out, shaken up from 2f out, ran on well, flat
Quicker ground is the quandary for supporters of Enfant De Lune and he could struggle to get the better of GOLD AWARD. Enfant De Lune has done well under more testing conditions and is a nice prospect; he may well handle this better ground and you'd have to be hopeful that he will with his connections prepared to find out. Either way he has to concede 12lbs to Gold Award which could prove to be too taxing following the Henderson runner's satisfactory hurdling bow at Doncaster. He took a while to get on top but did the job well enough and is entitled to find considerable improvement whilst last year he had the class to win two bumpers before finishing in midfield behind Cousin Vinny at Cheltenham. Elk Trail may have been a shade fortuitous to score last time and will need to improve to get close to that pair but his level of form is far in advance of that shown by the remainder thus far. We'll keep an eye on newcomer Aegean Prince but will support Gold Award.
Enfant De Lune (FR) 4-5fav (11-8) Tracked leaders, going well before when led 2 out, clear between last 2, hit last, easily, won at Lingfield 2m nov hdl (4) sft beating Super Directa (11-1) by 10l, 11 ran.
Elk Trail (IRE) 10-11fav (11-5) Took keen hold, led, clear 2nd until approaching 4th where headed, remained chasing leader, ridden and 3 lengths down when left in lead 2 out, all out, won at Warwick 2m 4yo nov hdl (4) sft in Feb beating Le Brocquy (10-12) by 1l, 11.
Aegean Prince 11-2 (9-0) Held up, headway 2f out, led inside final furlong, driven out, won at Lingfield 1m 4f hcp 0-85 (4) pol in Dec beating Alsadaa (8-13) by 2 1/2l, 5 ran (Flat).
Cnidos 250-1 (10-12) Keen, in touch, weakened 3 out, 11th of 15, well behind Ajzal (11-1) at Wincanton 2m mdn hdl (4) sft.
Gold Award 11-10fav (10-9) Held up, mistake 3rd, chased leader approaching 3 out, led flat, pushed out, won at Doncaster 2m cnd nov hdl (4) gd in Feb beating The Panama Kid (10-11) by a hd, 9 ran.
Punta Galera (IRE) 6-1 (11-0) Held up towards rear, headway approaching 3 out, soon no further progress, 5th of 11, 32l behind Mutual Friend (10-11) at Aintree 2m mdn hdl (4) gd in Jun.
The Wily Woodcock 12-1 (11-2) Pulled hard, held up, headway 5th, challenged next, still well there 3 out, weakened quickly soon after, 9th of 10, 50l behind Intac (11-2) at Plumpton 2m mdn hdl (5) sft in Feb.
Bite The Boss 12-1 (10-12) Held up towards rear, mistake 2nd, reminders after 4th, weakened approaching 3 out, 9th of 11, 47l behind Elk Trail (11-5) at Warwick 2m 4yo nov hdl (4) sft in Feb.
Daraiym (IRE) 6-1 (8-5) Held up behind leaders, ridden over 3f out, weakened approaching final furlong, 5th of 10, 9l behind Dansilver (9-7) at W'hampton 2m 1f hcp 0-65 (6) pol in Jan (Flat).
Martin's Friend (USA) 11-2 (10-12) In touch, mistake 1st, weakened before 3 out, 7th of 9, well behind Sydney Sling (10-9) at Fakenham 2m 3yo mdn hdl (5) sft in Dec.
Nowzdetime (IRE) 100-1 (10-0) Took keen hold, soon tracking leader, raced wide, led approaching 2nd, headed 5th, soon weakened, tailed off, 6th of 7, well behind Aachen (11-8) at Market Rasen 2m 1f nov hdl (3) sft in Feb.
Valento 100-1 (10-12) Mid-division, pushed along after 3 out, one pace and no impression from next, 5th of 15, 24l behind Silk Hall (10-12) at Newbury 2m 4yo nov hdl (4) gd in Feb.
Barathea Blazer 8-1 (10-12) Keen, with leader, led approaching 3rd, headed approaching 3 out, weakened quickly, tailed off when pulled up 2 out in race won by Border Castle (10-12) at Haydock 2m nov hdl (D) sft in Dec '05, 19 ran.
