held up towards rear, headway 9th, weakened 3 out, well behind when blundered 2 out, pulled up before last
tracked leaders, led 9th until mistake 3 out, soon headed, weakened approaching 2 out, pulled up before last
mid-division, mistake 6th, headway next, led soon after 3 out, ridden approaching last, headed flat, stayed on
tracked leaders, lost place 7th, behind 9th, mistake 3 out, no impression after
mid-division, not fluent 5th, headway 8th, chasing leaders after 2 out, weakened final 100 yards
held up in rear, headway after 3 out, chased leader approaching last, weakened final 150 yards
in touch on outside until mistake 3rd, well behind 9th, pulled up after
mid-division, blundered 2nd, headway 5th, lost place 9th, no impression when pecked 2 out
prominent, raced keenly, weakened approaching 3 out
led until 3rd, pressed leader, led 7th, headed 9th, weakening when rider lost iron briefly after 2 out
mid-division, headway after 6th, weakened approaching 3 out
held up in rear, not fluent 1st, headway 3 out, ridden after 2 out, no impression approaching last
tracked leaders, challenged after 3 out until approaching last, faded
tracked leaders, lost place 6th, rallied approaching 3 out, weakened flat
took keen hold in mid-division, struggling from 8th
mid-division, blundered 5th, effort after 3 out, no impression next
prominent, led 3rd until 7th, weakened approaching 3 out, tailed off
held up in rear, not fluent 4th, reached mid-division when mistake 3 out, soon weakened, pulled up before last
in rear, not fluent 2nd, mistake 3rd, ridden after 6th, headway 2 out, switched left approaching last, led flat, stayed on well
held up towards rear, headway 7th, weakened 2 out, pulled up before last
A poor contest where BAI ZHU can defy top weight first time up in a handicap to see off I've Been Framed and Sona Sasta. The last-named is chasing a hat-trick after successes at both Ffos Las and Huntingdon. David Pipe's gelding has shown in points that he acted on good to yielding ground, so he should be okay in these conditions, while this trip is ideal and with a 3lb rise is not entirely prohibitive. He should have be bang there. I've Been Framed will go on the ground, although would prefer it slower than this. He was well beaten off this mark at Fontwell last time but he may be able to show more over this trip and is respected. Ballyvesey is another beaten from his current mark last time out, but for whom conditions and trip are spot on, and he can't be ruled out, along with Crazy Eyes, who should stay this far. Corker might struggle from today's mark and we will side with Bai Zhu. The son of Anshan has had just four starts so far and earned his mark courtesy of a Newbury win last time. He left his previous hurdling form behind on that occasion, and now he has enjoyed success he looks capable of continuing it.
Bai Zhu (IRE) 10-1 (10-12) Tracked leaders, raced keenly, went 2nd 6th, not fluent next, challenged 3 out, soon led, ridden approaching last, edged slighty left and came close to runner up flat, headed towards finish, regained lead post, won at Newbury 2m 5f nov hdl (4) gs in Mar beating The Big Orse (10-12) by ns, 9 ran.
I've Been Framed (IRE) 3-1 (11-5) Tracked leader, weakened approaching 2 out, 4th of 9, 22l behind Sophies Trophy (11-8) at Fontwell 2m 2f nov hdl (4) gs in Mar.
Qroktou (FR) 7-4fav (11-3) Always prominent, led after 3 out, headed 2 out, soon ridden, beaten when went left and not fluent last, one pace, 2nd of 15, 3 1/2l behind Lord Tomnoddy (11-0) at Chepstow 3m NH mdn hdl (4) gd in Mar.
Bally Sands (IRE) 8-1 (11-1) Tracked leader until 6th, soon pushed along, outpaced when mistake 3 out, stayed on to take 4th flat, 4th of 10, 10l behind Maraafeq (11-7) at Newbury 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-130 (3) gs in Mar.
Regal Approach (IRE) 6-1 (11-6) Mid-division, headway 9th, challenged 3 out until next, soon switched left, no extra final 100 yards, 3rd of 17, 2 1/2l behind Master Eddy (11-2) at Newbury 3m hcp hdl 0-115 (4) sft in Mar.
Alderley Rover (IRE) 12-1 (10-0) Raced keenly in touch, ridden and weakened before 2 out, 11th of 18, 26l behind Red Harbour (10-11) at Sandown 2m 4f Grade 3 nov hcp hdl (1) gs in Mar.
Crazy Eyes (IRE) 8-1 (11-2) Held up towards rear, headway after 7th, not fluent 3 out, soon hanging left, outpaced 2 out, rallied last, stayed on flat, 6th of 24, 7l behind Lord Ragnar (11-1) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-110 (3) gs in Nov.
Corker 8-1 (10-8) Mistake 2nd, chased leader, led 3 out, kept on well from 2 out, readily, won at Kempton 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-125 (3) gd beating Ostland (11-4) by 2l, 14 ran.
Lady Bling Bling 11-4 (11-5) Held up in touch, not much room after 6th, ridden next, not fluent 8th, weakened after, tailed off, 4th of 11, well behind Prescelli (10-12) at Ludlow 2m 5f mrs nov hdl (4) gs in Mar.
Upham Atom 10-1 (11-3) Led until narrowly headed 2nd, chased leader until next, regained 2nd 6th until 8th, kept on from after 2 out, went modest 2nd flat, 2nd of 7, 14l behind Voramar Two (11-9) at Taunton 3m nh nov hdl (4) sft in Mar.
Oscar Prairie (IRE) 14-1 (11-2) Mid-division, not fluent 7th, headway next, hampered 9th, no extra flat (placed 3rd), 3rd of 11, 4 1/2l behind Winterwood (11-8) at Warwick 3m 1f hcp hdl 0-120 (3) gs in Feb.
There's No Panic (IRE) 14-1 (10-11) Mid-division, headway after 3 out, soon driven, no impression, 8th of 17, 43l behind Nice One Eric (11-0) at Wincanton 2m nh nov hdl (4) gs in Mar.
Sona Sasta (IRE) 11-4fav (11-6) Held up in touch, led narrowly after 9th, ridden after 3 out, strongly pressed when left with advantage 2 out, all out, won at Huntingdon 3m 2f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) sft in Feb beating Immense (10-2) by 1/2l, 9 ran.
Ballyvesey (IRE) 8-1 (10-11) In touch, challenged 3 out, led briefly approaching 2 out, soon no impression on winner, not fluent last, 2nd of 13, 12l behind Chaim (10-11) at Towcester 3m hcp hdl 0-120 (3) sft in Mar.
Little Eaglet (IRE) 8-1 (11-12) Tracked leaders, pushed along approaching 4th, outpaced 2 out, stayed on strongly flat, 3rd of 9, 2 1/4l behind Prince Louis (10-7) at Plumpton 2m 4f 5yo nov hcp (4) gs in Mar.
Inside Dealer (IRE) 8-1 (10-8) Raced wide early, in touch, close up when blundered and unseated rider 6th, in a race won by Lord Ragnar (11-12) at Newbury 2m 3f cnd nov hcp hdl (0-120) (3) sft in Mar, 11 ran.
Glebehall Bay (IRE) 12-1 (10-12) In touch on outside, went 2nd approaching 4th, led and not fluent 7th, headed approaching 2 out, weakening when not fluent last, 4th of 13, 21l behind Chaim (10-11) at Towcester 3m hcp hdl 0-120 (3) sft in Mar.
Filippo Lippi (IRE) 33-1 (11-6) Pressed leader, hit 3rd, led approaching 3 out, headed before 2 out, soon weakened, 8th of 12, 12l behind Requin (11-5) at Stratford 2m 3f nov hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gd in Mar.
Munlochy Bay 9-1 (10-9) In rear and mistakes, soon detached, headway after 4 out, chased leaders in 3rd approaching next, kept on, 3rd of 12, 13l behind Rock Wren (11-12) at Ludlow 3m hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gd in Mar.
Inchloch 33-1 (11-7) Held up in rear, headway 7th, weakened approaching 2 out, pulled up before last, in a race won by Earcomesthedream (10-13) at Hereford 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-105 (4) sft in Mar, 13 ran.
