chased leaders, fell 1st
close up, ridden before 4 out, soon weakened, pulled up before 2 out
behind, headway before 5 out, went 3rd from 3 out, weakened before last
towards rear, headway 5 out, ridden and weakened after 2 out
mid-division, ridden before 2 out, went 3rd from last, kept on and just held close home
led, ridden before 3 out, clear before last, headed towards finish, lost 2nd place close home
towards rear, fell 1st
towards rear, hampered and unseated rider 1st
close up, went 2nd before 3 out, ridden before last, kept on to lead towards finish, just held on close home
mid-division, hampered 1st, headway before 4 out, weakened from 2 out
mid-division, pushed along after 7 out, soon weakened
prominent, blundered 1st, lost place before 5 out
always behind, weakened from 6 out, pulled up before 6 out
A wide-open handicap to kick off proceedings with Powerful Symbol bidding to complete a hat-trick on his first start for Ben Pauling. He beat Nightline by two lengths over course and distance in December with Gibbes Bay an early casualty but the runner-up is now 4lb better off. Jonjo O’Neill may no longer train the top weight but still has two runners in this. Slippers Madden partners Washed Ashore, who won at Market Rasen last summer, but collateral form gives him something to find with CAPARD KING. Richie McLernon’s mount unseated his rider here two weeks ago but was still in front at the time and is looking well treated nowadays. Amiral Collonges is a stout stayer but he’s still creeping up the weights and may find a few of these too quick. Wetherby runner-up Crown Hill looks best of the rest ahead of Buster Thomas and the returning Twojayslad.
Powerful Symbol (IRE) 7-1 (11-5) Prominent, hampered 1st and 3rd, mistake 5th, led 13th, hard pressed until in command flat, all out, won at Doncaster 3m hcp (4) gs in Dec beating Nightline (11-7) by 2l, 8 ran.
Nightline 11-2 (11-8) Led to 6th, tracked winner, ridden before last, kept on and always held, 2nd of 6, 3 1/2l behind Red Infantry (11-1) at Doncaster 3m hcp (4) sft in Jan.
Washed Ashore (IRE) 13-2 (10-12) Held up towards rear, headway before 3 out to chase leaders, challenged and blundered badly 2 out, soon weakened, 7th of 13, 18 3/4l behind Audacious Plan (11-0) at Sedgefield 3m 5f hcp (2) gd in Nov.
Buster Thomas (IRE) 3-1 (11-0) Prominent, not much room 1st, led 3rd, headed before next, not fluent 9th, lost place after 11th, weakening when mistake 4 out, 4th of 5, 33 1/4l behind Town Parks (11-2) at Uttoxeter 2m 4f hcp (3) hvy in Dec.
Crown Hill (IRE) 4-1 (11-11) In touch and towards rear, headway 5 out to chase leaders, went 3rd from 3 out, chased winner before last, kept on and no impression, 2nd of 6, 4l behind Newberry New (11-3) at Wetherby 2m 3f hcp (4) sft in Jan.
Capard King (IRE) 7-2fav (11-12) Led, narrow lead when blundered and unseated rider 6 out, at Doncaster 3m hcp (4) sft in Jan.
Gibbes Bay (FR) 4-1 (11-8) Held up in rear, blundered badly 1st, unseated rider next, at Doncaster 3m hcp (4) gs in Dec.
Amiral Collonges (FR) 12-1 (11-1) In touch, headway into 2nd 5 out, led next, headed before 3 out, soon ridden and one pace, rallied and every chance closing stages, just held, 2nd of 13, shd behind Cyclop (11-4) at Market Rasen 3m 4f hcp (3) sft in Dec.
Another Frontier (IRE) 14-1 (11-6) In touch, jumped left 3rd, slow 5th, headway after next, soon chasing leaders, mistake 11th, joined leader 5 out, weakened after 3 out, tailed off, 10th of 14, dist behind Miss Tongabezi (11-4) at Towcester 2m 6f hcp (4) gs in Dec.
Twojayslad 7-2 (11-12) With leader, led after 10th, headed 3 out, kept on and no chance with winner, 2nd of 6, 4 1/2l behind Ultimatum Du Roy (11-11) at Market Rasen 3m hcp (4) gd in Apr.
Good Man Vinnie (IRE) 7-1 (10-9) Led, pushed long after 3 out, headed well before next, lost 2nd approaching 2 out, weakened and hit last, 4th of 8, 21l behind Golan Fortune (11-8) at Ascot 2m 6f hcp (3) gs in Dec.
Thoonavolla (IRE) 14-1 (11-0) In touch, lost place before 8th, behind next, pulled up before 3 out, at Worcester 2m 7f hcp (4) gd in Jun.
Ballythomas 28-1 (11-5) Led, headed before 3 out, hit 3 out and lost 2nd, weakened before next, behind and pulled up last, at Catterick 3m 1f hcp (4) gs in Dec.
