held up behind, headway before 2 out, kept on to take 2nd place towards finish, no chance with winner
with leaders, led briefly 4 out, weakened after 3 out
held up mid-division, ridden before 3 out, went 4th before 2 out, soon weakened
in touch, weakened from 4 out, tailed off
led, headed briefly 4 out, headed 2 out, kept on, lost 2 places towards finish
mid-division, soon towards rear, tracked leaders before 3 out, went 2nd and going well before and led 2 out, clear before last, eased towards finish
tracked leaders, ridden before 2 out, no extra run-in
chased leaders, pushed along before 3 out, kept on from last, went 3rd place towards finish
held up in rear, weakened from 4 out, tailed off
A number of these are returning from a mid-winter break. That list includes McCoy's mount Flash Crash, 7lb higher than when second over course and distance in November, and Vendredi Trois, upped 3lb since his fourth over track and trip a month earlier. Phare Isle's strike rate doesn't inspire confidence and he may find this a tad too far while Vaillant Creek also has his stamina to prove. Changeofluck disappointed last month at Fakenham so this may be best left to top weight FLORAL SPINNER, who was doing her best work at the finish over 3m at Chepstow last time in a better race than this.
Floral Spinner 16-1 (11-2) Held up in rear, headway 6th, outpaced before 3 out, rallied approaching last, ran on flat, just failed to get 2nd, no impression on winner, 3rd of 8, 8l behind Grape Tree Flame (11-6) at Chepstow 3m hcp hdl 0-120 (4) gs.
Changeofluck (IRE) 5-1 (11-12) Led early, tracked leaders, lost place 7th, behind 9th, pulled up before next, in a race won by Capard King (11-8) at Fakenham 3m nov hcp 0-115 (4) gs in Feb, 7 ran.
Flash Crash 13-2 (11-9) Held up in rear in touch, tracked leaders 6th, outpaced 8th, ridden before 3 out, kept on same pace, never on terms, weakened flat, 4th of 6, 15l behind Absolutely Bygones (11-2) at Exeter 2m 7f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) hvy in Nov.
Blackwell Synergy (FR) 50-1 (11-4) Always behind, pulled up before 7th, in a race won by Heronshaw (11-12) at Warwick 3m 2f hcp hdl 0-120 (4) sft in Feb, 11 ran.
Vaillant Creek (FR) 5-2 (11-12) Raced wide, led 1st, headed after 7th, lost 2nd before next, soon struggling and no chance in 3rd, 3rd of 6, 30l behind The Darling Boy (11-4) at Huntingdon 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) sft in Feb.
Phare Isle (IRE) 11-2 (11-5) Chased leader, led before 6th until before next, chased leaders, ridden and weakening when went right 2 out, 6th of 11, 29l behind Rendezvous Peak (11-7) at Huntingdon 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gs in Dec.
Vendredi Trois (FR) 9-2 (11-7) Held up towards rear, headway before 2 out, ridden after last, kept on, 4th of 8, 2 1/2l behind Jayo Time (11-0) at Wincanton 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gd in Oct.
Duke Of Monmouth (IRE) 9-4fav (10-8) In touch in 4th, weakened before 4 out, tailed off, 5th of 6, well behind Tullyesker Hill (11-12) at Chepstow 3m hcp hdl 0-125 (3) sft in Nov.
Dontupsettherhythm (IRE) 8-1 (10-8) Towards rear, headway 6th, ridden and outpaced 2 out, rallied flat to go 2nd towards finish, 2nd of 11, 1l behind Ivans Back (10-10) at Market Rasen 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-100 (5) gd.
