held up in rear, not fluent 4th, closing when fell 10th
held up towards rear on inside, headway 11th, going well when pecked slightly 3 out, shaken up and switched right after 2 out, quickened to lead before last, clear flat, stayed on strongly
not always fluent, chased leaders, bad mistake and lost place 12th, well beaten from next, pulled up before last
led, pecked slightly and headed 1st, chased leader, hit 6th, closed 8th, led after 2 out, headed before last, 3rd and no extra flat
held up towards rear, headway 12th, shaken up before 3 out, ridden after 2 out, went 2nd before mistake last, no impression on winner
led 1st, not fluent 9th, headed after 2 out, 4th and fading last
NonRunner
PIC D’ORHY has taken well to fences this season, winning three times. He quickened well to overhaul Millers Bank in a Grade 2 at Kempton last time and by-passed Cheltenham to run here. Jacamar and The Widdow Maker may be out of their depth but War Lord won over this trip over hurdles and ran well for a long way in the Arkle at The Festival. Gin On Lime is 5-8 over fences but she’s not raced since the lucky winner of a match in November. Erne River beat a subsequent Listed winner at Doncaster in January and has since completed his hat-trick in effortless fashion at Wetherby but this is a huge step up in class.
Erne River (IRE) 1-2fav (11-6) Jumped left at times, chased leader, led 13th, clear when not fluent 3 out or 2 out, stayed on well, won at Wetherby 2m 5f (3) sft in Feb beating Uncle Alastair (11-0) by 13l, 5 ran.
Millers Bank 5-2 (11-0) Tracked leaders on inside, went 2nd between last two, ridden to challenge last, one pace and held run-in, stayed on for 2nd, 2nd of 5, 1l behind Pic D'Orhy (11-5) at Kempton 2m 4f (1) gs in Feb.
Pic D'Orhy (FR) 3-1 (11-5) Pressed leader, challenged 3 out, led next, stayed on well, driven out, won at Kempton 2m 4f (1) gs in Feb beating Millers Bank (11-0) by 1l, 5 ran.
The Widdow Maker 2-1 (11-8) Led, increased tempo after 5 out, ridden and headed approaching 2 out, kept on same pace from last, 2nd of 4, 4 1/4l behind Emir Sacree (10-13) at Chepstow 2m 3f hcp (3) gs in Mar.
War Lord (GER) 50-1 (11-4) Chased leaders on inside, lost place after 3 out, stayed on approaching last, went 4th flat but no impression, 4th of 11, 10 3/4l behind Edwardstone (11-4) at Cheltenham 2m (1) gs in Mar.
Gin On Lime (FR) 7-4 (11-3) Led, hit 3rd, jumped right 8th and 4 out, joined after 3 out, headed before 2 out where mistake, sprawled on landing and brought to a standstill, left alone, won at Cheltenham 2m 4f (2) gd in Nov.
Jacamar (GER) 8-1 (11-0) In rear, hit 5th, headway when not fluent 14th, ridden before 4 out, one pace, 4th of 5, 12 3/4l behind Do Your Job (11-0) at Ayr 2m 4f (1) gs in Apr.
