held up in rear, brief effort 8th, weakened before 3 out
led, soon clear, hit 3 out, headed well before 2 out, soon no chance with winner but kept on for clear 2nd
in touch to 5th, ridden and not run on from 7th, well behind when pulled up before next
soon towards rear, no chance when mistake 3 out
held up in rear, ridden and struggling from 8th
tended to jump right, tracked leader until jumped slowly 4th, prominent until outpaced approaching 8th, stayed on from 2 out to take 3rd run-in
prominent, slightly outpaced 8th, effort to chase leading pair 3 out, no impression when jumped left next, weakened and lost 3rd run-in
jumped right at several flights, tracked leader 4th, led well before 2 out, soon in command, clear when jumped right last
held up, headway 5th, chased leading pair 8th until hit 3 out and weakened
took keen hold in touch, ridden 6th, lost touch next, tailed off when pulled up before 8th
Westmeath Flyer gets a tentative vote over Rosemauve, with Kings Castle and Heron's Ghyll others in with a chance. Westmeath Flyer would not have much improvement in him at the age of 11, but was in good form in the main last season, and will be all the better for his run out at Leicester recently. That was for Nicky Richards, and he now has his first outing for Paul Blockley who has booked Mick Fitzgerald to ride, so they obviously mean business. Rosemauve has gone up in the weights but has won over the course-and-distance in the past, and with the Pipe stable coming back to form, is another for the short-list. Kings Castle is approaching the end of his career now but has been profitable to follow as well, and he should be in the shake-up, while Heron's Ghyll was pulled up on his return over fences and is still on the comeback trail. Overall it is Westmeath Flyer that makes most appeal.
Westmeath Flyer 4-5fav (11-6) Mid-division, headway 6th, hit 3 out, led 2 out, headed last, no extra flat, 2nd of 9, 10l behind Biscar Two (11-3) at Leicester 2m 4f clm hdl (4) sft.
Rosemauve (FR) 5-1 (10-3) Held up in touch, ridden approaching 2 out, weakened approaching last, 8th of 17, 28l behind Quick (10-10) at Cheltenham 3m hcp hdl (B) gd in Dec '04.
Global Challenge (IRE) 40-1 (11-2) Always behind, under pressure and beaten before 8th, tailed off, 10th of 13, well behind The Market Man (11-10) at Newbury 3m hcp hdl 0-140 (B) gd in Nov.
Water King (USA) 9-1 (10-0) Held up, weakened approaching 3 out, 5th of 7, 39l behind Haut de Gamme (10-1) at Wetherby 2m 4f hcp hdl (2) hvy.
Kings Castle (IRE) 12-1 (10-11) Held up towards rear, headway and ridden after 3 out, kept on well from 2 out, 3rd of 13, 15l behind The Luder (11-5) at Wincanton 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-120 (3) gs.
Alfa Sunrise 14-1 (10-7) Prominent, blundered 1st, ridden 15th, weakened approaching 4 out, 5th of 7, 36l behind Lord Anner (10-8) at Wincanton 3m 1f nov hcp chs 0-110 (D) gd in Oct.
Heron's Ghyll (IRE) 9-2co-fav (11-11) Held up, blundered 8th, struggling when stumbled badly on landing 12th and pulled up at the 13th in race won by Blunham Hill (10-7) at Haydock 2m 6f hcp chs 0-115 (D) sft in Dec, 10 ran.
Golden Bay 6-1 (10-3) Held up towards rear, headway to chase leaders after 3 out, weakened qucikly next, 10th of 14, 42l behind Back Nine (11-9) at Sandown 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-120 (D) gs in Mar.
