tracked winner, not fluent 4th, no impression when hit 3 out, not fluent last
made all, not fluent 2nd, clear 3 out, very easily
held up in last pair, mistake 1st, not much room next, outpaced 4th, well beaten from next
held up in last pair, not always fluent, pushed along before 4th, well beaten from next, went 4th before last
tracked leaders, raced quite keenly, not fluent 5th, 3rd and no chance with winner from 3 out
chased leaders, went right and jumped slowly 2nd, weakened before 3 out, fell last
Protest won a couple of low grade handicaps on Tapeta in the autumn when trained by Sylvester Kirk and Dan Skelton should find a race over hurdles for him but AIR SQUADRON (NAP) should have too much class for these if fully wound-up. A winner three times over 1m6f on the Flat, fast ground is no problem and he’s joined a top NH yard. Dusky Raider was also a stayer on the level but got outpaced over further at Stratford on his hurdles bow. Dual bumper winner Brahms De Clermont was second here in February so will probably be the one picking up the pieces if the selection fails to fire.
Air Squadron 25-1 (8-0) Mid-division, headway over 4f out, tracked leaders, weakened over 1f out, 13th of 17, 29 1/4l behind Penglai Pavilion (9-1) at Newmarket 2m 2f hcp stks (2) gd in Sep.
Brahms De Clermont (FR) 11-4 (11-3) Chased leading pair, not fluent 4th, closed disputing well held 2nd before 3 out, hit last, took 2nd close home, no chance with easy winner, 2nd of 9, 15l behind Any Drama (11-10) at Exeter 2m 3f (4) gs in Feb.
Buck's Lad 12-1 (11-2) Took keen hold, held up in last pair, closer in 4th at 5th, 2nd and hit 2 out, went left last, no chance with winner, 2nd of 6, 8l behind Trevisani (11-2) at Exeter 2m 3f mdn (5) gf in Apr.
Dont Even Go There (IRE) 12-1 (10-13) Sometimes jumped left, disputed 2nd behind clear winner until dropped to 3rd and reminders 8th, never any chance, last of 3, 8 1/2l behind Rouge Devils (11-11) at Exeter 2m 6f (4) gf in Apr.
Dusky Raider (IRE) 8-1 (10-7) Chased leaders, ridden after 2 out, no chance with winner and pressing for 2nd before last, stayed on same pace, 3rd of 9, 10 1/4l behind Little Chunk (11-6) at Stratford 2m 3f (4) gd in Apr.
Protest (IRE) 11-4fav (9-0) Made most, ridden 2 lengths clear entering final furlong, idled towards finish, just held on, won at Wolverhampton 1m 1f hcp (6) pol in Nov beating Two In The Pink (9-6) by nk, 13 ran.
Le Drapeau (FR) 14-1 (11-4) Chased leader who was clear for 2f, pushed along over 5f out, lost 2nd 3f out, one pace, 3rd of 8, 16 1/4l behind Lalor (11-4) at Wincanton 1m 7f mdn (6) hvy in Mar.
Oscars Boss 5-1 (11-2) In touch when not fluent and pecked 1st, back in mid-division when slow 3rd, closed next, lost place after 3 out, well held 2 out, 5th of 10, 35 1/2l behind Robbin'hannon (11-2) at Warwick 2m 5f mdn (4) hvy in Mar.
