held up in rear, not fluent 4th, jumped left 8th, not fluent next, headway 11th, led 2 out, clear flat, eased close home
jumped right, led until after 8th, struggling and well held 4 out, stayed on flat, went 3rd final strides
chased leader, led after 8th, hit brush upright 9th, headed before 3 out, lost 2nd flat, weakened into last final strides
in rear, reminders after 7th, mistake and behind 9th, stayed on from 2 out, went 2nd flat, no impression on winner
chased leaders, not fluent 7th, challenged after next, not fluent 10th, led before 3 out, headed and pecked badly 2 out, soon well held
NonRunner
NonRunner
Barton Knoll bids to win this for the third time in succession though this is tougher than last year’s renewal with the progressive MACKENBERG (NAP) taken to continue winning ways. He’s now won all four starts so far over fences having made a successful return at Ayr and can race off the same mark if Theo Gillard’s allowance is taken into account. Topofthecotswolds won easily at Ludlow but this shorter trip is not sure to suit and Nocte Volatus is preferred having shown good progress over fences last term. The King Of May is not badly treated on his winning form if back to his best.
Mackenberg (GER) 4-1 (11-12) Raced wide tracking leaders, went 2nd at 5th, led 4 out, made rest, awkward next, ridden and strongly pressed run-in, stayed on gamely, all out, won at Ayr 2m hcp (3) gs in Oct beating Hasankey (11-11) by hd, 8 ran.
Topofthecotswolds (IRE) 3-1 (12-1) Prominent, led after 9th, shaken up and joined 4 out, stayed on strongly to extend advantage over 2 out, won at Ludlow 3m 2f hcp (3) gd in Nov beating Big Difference (10-13) by 10l, 5 ran.
Barton Knoll 11-4 (11-3) Tracked leaders out wide, slightly hampered 9th, weakened before 3 out, last of 4, 36l behind Northern Bound (11-7) at Newbury 2m 4f hcp (3) gf in Nov.
The King Of May (FR) 16-1 (11-4) Midfield, took closer order 10th, pushed along before 3 out, no extra after last, 3rd of 10, 12 3/4l behind Karl Philippe (11-11) at Wetherby 2m 3f hcp (3) gd in Nov.
The Mighty Arc (IRE) 4-1 (10-6) Chased leaders out wide, weakened 4 out, tailed off and pulled up before 2 out, at Kelso 2m 6f hcp (2) hvy in Feb.
Nocte Volatus 13-2 (11-4) Mid-division, not fluent 7th, mistake and unseated rider 10th, at Haydock 2m 4f hcp (2) gs in Apr.
Buster Valentine (IRE) 11-1 (11-6) Led, pushed along and headed before 4 out, lost 2nd 4 out, weakened 3 out, last of 6, 33 3/4l behind Elvis Mail (12-2) at Ayr 2m 4f hcp (3) gs in Oct.
