held up in touch, led after 3 out, headed before next, switched left approaching last, stayed on same pace
tracked leaders, went 2nd before 6th, led approaching 2 out, headed before last, no extra towards finish
held up, headway before 6th, challenged 2 out, led before last, driven flat, headed towards finish
held up in rear, headway after 6th, 5th and outpaced before 2 out, rallied flat, led towards finish, won going away
tracked leaders, not fluent 7th, weakened before 2 out, tailed off
mid-division, not fluent 3rd, pushed along next, lost place after 5th, just about in touch 3 out, no impression, well beaten before next
pressed leader, not fluent 5th, lost 2nd before next, weakened 3 out, pulled up before next
held up towards rear, mistake 5th, last and behind before next, tailed off
held up, just about in touch 4 out, mistake and weakened next, pulled up before 2 out
led, jumped left, headed after 3 out, no extra from last
Kumbeshwar has reverted from chasing and dropped to a fair mark so has to be on the shortlist along with Conquisto, who has gone down the same route but is better class over hurdles. The latter looks a danger to all but SPANISH FLEET is taken to get back on the winning trail. He went up 25lb after completing a hat-trick on this track in November and just failed in a much better race at Wetherby on Boxing Day. He's another 8lb higher here but is progressive enough to overcome the extra. Gold Futures also completed a hat-trick early last summer and though he struggled in much better company later this is more his grade and he can get into the frame. Upswing has won twice here in the past and though not in the best of form recently has to be considered under A P McCoy.
Conquisto 4-1 (11-3) Tracked leader until before 3 out, soon outpaced, went 3rd and stayed on approaching last, no impression, 3rd of 8, 8l behind Local Hero (11-6) at Catterick 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-140 (3) sft in Jan.
Spanish Fleet 4-1fav (11-7) Prominent, challenged last, no extra close home, 2nd of 13, nk behind No Planning (11-5) at Wetherby 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-130 (3) gs in Dec.
Upswing (IRE) 10-1 (11-7) Held up in rear, pushed along 10th, weakened after 14th, 5th of 7, well behind Algernon Pazham (11-0) at Leicester 2m 7f nov chs (3) sft in Jan.
Gold Futures (IRE) 15-2 (10-10) Towards rear, weakened from 3 out, 7th of 11, 24l behind Retrieve (10-0) at Musselburgh 2m Listed hcp hdl (1) gd.
Tikkandemickey (IRE) 20-1 (10-13) Held up towards rear, lost touch before 6th, well held after, 5th of 8, 20l behind Local Hero (11-6) at Catterick 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-140 (3) sft in Jan.
Landecker (IRE) 20-1 (10-13) Tracked leaders, ridden 3 out, weakened next, 8th of 9, well behind Phoenix Returns (10-8) at Carlisle 3m 1f hcp hdl (2) hvy in Dec.
Kumbeshwar 14-1 (10-10) Led until 1st, prominent, led again 5th, headed 3 out, edged right and no impression flat, stayed on same pace, 2nd of 6, 5l behind Circus Star (10-3) at Ayr 2m hcp hdl 0-135 (3) hvy in Jan.
Bright Abbey 100-1 (10-5) In rear, tailed off when jumped badly last, 9th of 11, 38l behind Big Water (10-7) at Carlisle 2m 4f nov hcap ch (3) sft in Nov.
Boruma (IRE) 5-1 (11-11) Led, headed after 3 out, weakened before next, lost modest 4th before last, 5th of 8, well behind Aqalim (11-11) at Sedgefield 2m 4f nh nov hdl (4) sft in Jan.
Hartforth 7-2 (10-5) Tracked winner, reminders before 6 out, outpaced 4 out, ridden before 2 out, kept on to take 2nd run-in, no chance with winner, 2nd of 6, 12l behind Fly Vinnie (11-4) at Musselburgh 3m hcp hdl 0-130 (3) sft in Jan.
