held up in rear steady headway from 6th, went 3rd 4 out until 2 out, well held in 4th after
chased leaders, not fluent 3 out, went 3rd from next, no impression on winner, kept on
chased leaders, lost place 2nd, mistake 4th, well beaten from 5 out
made all, jumped right a few times, hit 5 out, clear from 2 out, stayed on most gamely
chased leaders, mistake 2nd, rider lost irons and did not get one back until after the 3rd, mistake 4th, struggling 7th, soon weakened, mistake 5 out, pulled up before 3 out
in rear, not fluent 2nd, mistake 4th, well beaten when mistake 7th and 8th, pulled up before 3 out
keen early, chased winner, mistake 4th and 7th, held from 2 out, kept on
NonRunner
Another very tough puzzle to solve. Dolos got back to winning ways at Sandown but has never won off a mark this high. Nuts Well has found form with a vengeance and seeks a four-timer, though was only fourth in this last year. Jerrysback has never run over a trip this short but Dalila Du Seuil, who also runs in the McManus colours, has strong claims if she can brush up her jumping. Joke Dancer hasn’t been at his best the last twice but earlier won decent contests at Haydock and Warwick and would be a threat on that form. Something was clearly amiss with DESTRIER at Cheltenham in December. He was less than a length behind Dolos in the Haldon Gold Cup earlier at Exeter and is now 4lb better off. Dan Skelton’s charge has a good strike-rate and can get back to winning ways with a tongue-tie fitted as Katpoli is probably in the handicapper’s grip now.
Dolos (FR) 7-2 (11-12) Tracked leading pair, went 2nd going well before 3 out, led next, 2 lengths ahead last, idled run-in, always doing enough, won at Sandown 2m hcp (2) sft in Feb beating First Flow (10-9) by 1/2l, 6 ran.
Nuts Well 4-1 (11-10) Led until 2nd, chased leaders, challenged 4 out, led next, not fluent 2 out, stayed on well, clear towards finish, won at Wetherby 2m 3f hcp (2) sft in Feb beating Clan Legend (10-7) by 4 1/4l, 9 ran.
Destrier (FR) 5-4fav (11-12) Handily placed, every chance before 2 out, soon ridden and beaten, weakened after, 6th of 8, 16 1/4l behind Northern Beau (10-0) at Cheltenham 2m hcp (2) sft in Dec.
Gino Trail (IRE) 12-1 (11-6) Led to 6th, chased leader, blundered 8th, lost place after 3 out (usual 4 out) soon behind, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out, at Cheltenham 2m hcp (2) hvy in Oct.
Dalila Du Seuil (FR) 7-1 (11-0) Raced freely, led, pecked slightly 4 out, headed when mistake 2 out, beaten when guessed at last, no extra, 2nd of 3, 11l behind Maire Banrigh (11-0) at Huntingdon 2m 4f lst (1) sft in Jan.
Joke Dancer 4-1 (10-10) Jumped right, held up last, left in modest 4th place at 4th, tailed off when went badly right blundered and fell last, at Sandown 2m hcp (2) sft in Feb.
Katpoli (FR) 6-1 (10-13) Held up in rear, mistake 1st, not fluent 3rd, headway 3 out, 4th and no impression 2 out, 5th of 8, 14 1/4l behind Clondaw Castle (11-7) at Warwick 2m 4f hcp (2) gs in Feb.
Jerrysback (IRE) 5-1 (10-8) Held up towards rear, headway chasing leaders blundered 4 out, pushed along after next, hung right and kept on into 3rd at the last, 3rd of 10, 3l behind Regal Encore (10-7) at Ascot 3m hcp lst (1) hvy in Dec.
