led, jumped off all weather strip before not fluent 2nd, edged right on bend before 4th then headed, led 5th, headed 7th, led 4 out, clear from 2 out, easily
tracked leaders, went wide after 6th until after next and again in back straight last time, went 2nd after 3 out, hit 2 out, weakened last
in rear, not fluent, mistake 7th, weakened 3 out, soon pulled up
with winner, led 4th, headed 5th, led 7th until 4 out, weakened after 3 out
MELROSE BOY won a Class 3 handicap at Cheltenham in November and has yet to finish out of the frame over hurdles. He probably was a bit below par last time at Newbury but still finished third and it will be a surprise if he isn’t much too good for these. Ruggiero changed hands for 100,000 euros as a three-year-old but has only run once so far, in a bumper. He’s bred for jumping and may be the one for forecast-backers ahead of the disappointing Now Listen Here.
Melrose Boy (FR) 4-5fav (10-12) Mid-division, headway on outside chasing leaders 5th, 2nd going well before 3 out where every chance, hung left and lost 2nd before 2 out, 3rd and held when stumbled badly 2 out, blundered last, 3rd of 10, 11l behind Mr Whipped (11-4) at Newbury 2m 5f (4) sft in Dec.
Now Listen Here (IRE) 25-1 (10-12) Towards rear, plugged on past beaten horses run-in, never on terms, 4th of 13, dist behind Highway One O One (11-5) at Fontwell 2m 2f (4) sft in Dec.
Ruggiero (IRE) 14-1 (11-0) Held up last, kept on final furlong, no threat, 7th of 14, 19 1/4l behind Article Fifty (11-0) at Uttoxeter 2m (6) gs in Nov.
Boola River (IRE) 11-2 (12-2) Rr, last 5out, no ex from 3out, cto bhnd, 3rd of 5, dist behind Kings Dolly (12-2) at Belclare 3m gs in Apr.
