tracked leaders, ridden and lost place approaching 6th, well held after, plugged on from 2 out
tracked leaders, went 2nd after 3 out until approaching last, no extra in 4th before last
held up in rear, pushed along after 5th, headway from 3 out, went 2nd soon after last, stayed on, no impression on winner
held up in rear, headway 5th, not fluent next, chased winner 2 out, held when hit last, soon demoted to 3rd, no extra
held up, headway approaching 3 out, weakened 2 out
in rear, not fluent and ridden 4th, lost touch next
made all, jumped left 5th, brought stands side when hit 2 out, in command when stumbled last, ridden out
tracked winner, bumped 5th, not fluent next, weakened approaching 2 out
tracked leaders, challenged approaching 6th, mistake 3 out, soon weakened, tailed off
tracked leaders, lost place 3rd, ridden after 5th, weakened after 3 out
High Samana, Captain Sharpe and the Brendan Powell pair, Arctic Reach and Xenophon, look pretty much exposed while Mattoral needs it softer. But Black Pond could go close in his first handicap as he hasn't been beaten far in any of his three runs over hurdles. Creekside has disappointed since scoring on his debut at Catterick, however, and has something to find with Clarion Call on Towcester running so the vote goes to LEXI'S BOY. Successful four times on the Polytrack, the better ground today is certain to suit Donald McCain's gelding though he's been far from disgraced on softer going at Haydock and Carlisle recently.
Arctic Reach 200-1 (11-0) In touch, lost place 3 out, soon ridden, weakened next, 14th of 20, 29l behind Countrywide Flame (11-0) at Cheltenham 2m 1f 4yo hdl Grade 1 (1) gd in Mar.
High Samana 66-1 (10-13) Held up in rear, blundered 2 out, stayed on appproaching last, never nearer, 10th of 24, 16l behind Une Artiste (10-8) at Cheltenham 2m 4yo nov hcp hdl Grd 3 (1) gd in Mar.
Creekside 5-2 (10-8) Held up towards rear, hampered and blundered 4th, left 2nd after 3 out, lost 2nd place after last, 3rd of 13, 12l behind Sunny Ledgend (11-1) at Towcester 2m nh nov hdl (4) gs in Feb.
Captain Sharpe 40-1 (10-0) Tracked leaders, outpaced in 3rd when hit 3 out, soon no chance with leading pair, lost moderate 3rd approaching last, weakened flat, 5th of 9, 23l behind Dream Esteem (11-4) at Chepstow 2m hcp hdl 0-135 (3) sft in Feb.
Clarion Call 3-1 (10-4) Led, jumped left 3rd, pushed 3 lengths clear when went left and fell last, in a race won by Outrageous Request (10-11) at Hereford 2m 1f 4yo nov stks (4) gd in Mar, 4 ran.
Mattoral 200-1 (11-0) Mid-division in touch, lost place 3 out, soon behind, tailed off, 16th of 20, well behind Countrywide Flame (11-0) at Cheltenham 2m 1f 4yo hdl Grade 1 (1) gd in Mar.
Lexi's Boy (IRE) 2-1 (11-12) With leader, ridden before 3 out, kept on from last, just held on for 2nd place, 2nd of 6, 1 1/4l behind Sustainability (11-4) at Carlisle 2m 1f nov hcp hdl 0-120 (4) sft in Mar.
Orthodox Lad 25-1 (10-12) Held up in last trio, ridden and struggling after 4 out, weakened next, no chance when blundered 2 out, tailed off, 6th of 8, well behind Baby Mix (11-5) at Kempton 2m 4yo hdl Grade 2 (1) gd in Feb.
Black Pond (USA) 5-2 (10-7) Tracked leading pair, went 2nd just before 2 out, ridden and no impression before last, 2nd of 11, 6l behind Old Tricks (11-1) at Wincanton 2m mdn hdl (4) gs in Mar.
Thunder Sheik (IRE) 16-1 (10-12) Tracked leaders, ridden before 2 out, kept on, went 4th after last, 4th of 11, 5l behind Beyeh (10-0) at Stratford 2m 4yo hdl (3) gd in Mar.
Xenophon 14-1 (11-5) Soon held up in touch, closed 4th, led next until 6th, weakened 2 out, 6th of 8, 36l behind Songsmith (11-0) at Newbury 2m 3f hcp ch 0-130 (3) gd in Mar.
