tracked leader 5f, went 2nd again 6f out, led 3f out, ridden and pressed over 1f out, headed and lost 2nd close home
led and set steady pace, reminder halfway and again over 4f out, pushed along and headed over 3f out, weakened over 2f out
awkward in preliminaries and mounted on course, held up in rear, smooth headway travelling well over 3f out, tracked leaders over 2f out, switched right over 1f out, ridden and effort between horses inside final furlong, ran on to lead post
pulled hard tracking leaders, pushed along and outpaced over 2f out, ridden wandered and weakened over 1f out
held up in 5th, headway on wide outside to 2nd after 5f until 5f out, went 2nd again 3f out, ridden to challenge and hung left over 1f out, stayed on under pressure to lead close home, headed post
held up in last pair, pushed along in 4th and one pace final 2f
tracked leaders, ridden and outpaced 3f out, no chance after
Aqalim may not have beaten much on his debut at Taunton but has obvious scope on only his second start. But we prefer CLONDAW BANKER, who won a jumpers' bumper on the Polytrack here last month. Nico De Boinville claims back 5lb from his penalty and he won on Turf between the flags. Colin's Brother should improve on his sixth at Cheltenham while Murrayana is preferred to Hurricane Vic and Champagne Chaser of the newcomers.
Clondaw Banker (IRE) 13-8fav (10-13) Prominent, went 2nd 4f out, led and ridden over 1f out, stayed on well, won at Kempton 2m n h flat (4) std in Jan beating Molly Cat (10-7) by 2l, 16 ran.
Top Show 100-1 (11-2) Always towards rear, 13th of 14, 43l behind Five In A Row (11-2) at Kempton 2m n h flat (4) std.
Aqalim 10-11fav (10-4) Held up towards rear, headway on inside from 4f out, led and quickened just over 1f out, readily, won at Taunton 2m 1f mdn nat hunt flat (5) gd in Dec beating Go Odee Go (11-7) by 4 1/2l, 11 ran.
Champagne Chaser Tobougg gelding out of Champagne Lil.
Colin's Brother 12-1 (10-12) Held up in rear, behind 5f out, plugged on inside final 2f, 6th of 10, 33l behind Modus (10-12) at Cheltenham 1m 6f 4yo NH flat (Listed) (1) sft in Jan.
Hurricane Vic Mount Nelson gelding out of Fountains Abbey.
Murrayana (IRE) King's Theatre gelding out of Royalrova.
