mid-division, not fluent 2nd, reminder after next, struggling 6th, never near leaders, left moderate 4th 2 out
mid-division, tracked leaders 4 out, led narrowly next, soon ridden, blundered last, wandered towards finish, just held on
tracked leaders, ridden to chase leading pair after 4 out, close up and effort next, 1 lengths down in 3rd and staying on when fell 2 out
made most, headed briefly 5th, ridden and headed approaching 3 out, 7 lengths down in 4th when left 3rd next, no chance with front pair
tracked leaders, went 2nd at 8th, upsides 3 out, every chance when mistake next, ridden and kept on flat, just held
pressed leader, led briefly 5th, lost place 8th, outpaced after 4 out, weakened from next
keen early, held up in last pair, lost touch and pulled up before 6th
held up in last pair, struggling 8th, soon weakened, pulled up before 3 out
Milanese was travelling well when falling at Chepstow in December and was well supported on a return visit last month but fell again. ASHFORD WOOD looked a real staying potential when scoring over 2m4f at Ffos Las so today's longer trip is just what's required. He has scope to do much better and is handed the vote. Saddlers Encore produced a surprise when stepping up to 2m6f at Wincanton and there's plenty more to come but after landing a moderate event at Southwell, Sego Success was sent to Haydock for a Grade Two but it proved well beyond him. Strollawaynow scored over a shorter trip here in January but has been a bit disappointing since so the main threat looks to be Virtuel D'Oudon, who still looked in need of experience despite scoring at Fontwell last month. Chinatown Boy jumped moderately on his debut over hurdles here last month and will need to do much better.
Ashford Wood (IRE) 4-1 (11-1) Hung left most of way, raced alone on wide outside, mid-division, headway to chase leaders 5th, went left and joined leaders 4 out, led 3 out, ridden and pressed from next, stayed on to assert going to the last, driven out, won at Ffos Las 2m 4f NH mdn hdl (4) sft in Mar beating Gate Please (10-10) by 2l, 12 ran.
Saddlers Encore (IRE) 20-1 (11-1) Never far away, headway before 2 out, went 2nd approaching 2 out, led approaching and not fluent last, driven and kept on strongly to assert final 100 yards, won at Wincanton 2m 6f nh nov hdl (4) gs in Mar beating Southfield Vic (11-1) by 1l, 10 ran.
Sego Success (IRE) 14-1 (11-8) Mid-division, headway 4 out, weakened from 2 out, 4th of 9, 41l behind Toubeera (11-1) at Haydock 3m nov hdl G2 (1) hvy in Feb.
Strollawaynow (IRE) 5-2 (11-7) Led, pushed along and headed 9th, chased leader until ridden before 3 out, soon beaten, left modest 4th 2 out, went 3rd post, 3rd of 9, 13l behind Ellnando Queen (10-5) at Plumpton 2m 5f nh nov hdl (4) gd in Mar.
Virtuel D'oudon (FR) 2-1 (11-2) Tracked leader, reminders before 3 out, led before 2 out, soon clear, driven out, held on towards finish, won at Fontwell 2m 6f nh nov hdl (4) gs in Mar beating Ballyheigue Bay (11-2) by 3/4l, 8 ran.
Milanese (IRE) 8-1 (11-1) Held up in rear, fell 3rd, in a race won by Fayette County (11-7) at Chepstow 2m 4f nh nov hdl (4) sft in Mar, 8 ran.
War Treaty (IRE) 80-1 (11-1) Blundered and unseated rider 1st, in a race won by While You Wait (11-1) at Exeter 2m 3f nov sell hdl (5) gs in Mar, 9 ran.
Tamarton Tansy 20-1 (10-12) Mid-division, hit 3 out, weakening when mistake 2 out, last of 11, 29l behind Blue Buttons (11-5) at Taunton 2m 3f mrs nov hdl (4) gd in Mar.
Chinatown Boy (IRE) Evensfav (11-3) Close 3rd until pushed along 6th, ridden after 4 out, weakened and pulled up before 3 out, in a race won by Capote (11-4) at Exeter 2m 7f nh nov hdl (4) hvy in Mar, 3 ran.
Jay Are (IRE) 80-1 (11-1) Mid-division, weakened 2 out, 10th of 16, 46l behind Simply A Legend (11-1) at Ascot 2m 3f mdn hdl (4) gd in Mar.
