took keen hold, led, jumped left 3 out, ridden and headed next, soon hung right, 2 lengths down when mistake last, lost 2nd flat, no extra and just held on for 3rd
with leader, ridden before 3 out, lost 2nd at hurdle, kept on, re-took 2nd flat, no impression on winner
held up in touch, not fluent 5th or 3 out, one pace when mistake 2 out, weakened last
tracked leaders on inside, took keen hold, went 2nd 3 out, led next, edged left and clear flat, ridden out
tracked leaders, jumped slowly 6th, outpaced before 3 out, plugged on flat, closing on 3rd towards finish
held up in last, not fluent 6th, outpaced when not fluent 3 out or 2 out, weakened before last
Stratford winner Foxtail Hill should find this easier than the Grade 2 he contested at Cheltenham in November but the lack of a recent run is a concern with a big weight to carry. ASCENDANT is two from two around here since the turn of the year and useful amateur Robert Hawker is back on board. Johnny Farrelly's nine-year-old goes well for inexperienced riders and likes sharp tracks so can enhance his course record with a note of caution attached to Stratford runner-up Bombadero, having a second start in a short space of time following a lengthy absence. Red Inca is a course and distance winner but doesn't seem the force of old, though has been placed twice off this mark recently. Taaresh has been in decent form on the all-weather since his fifth in better company at Musselburgh in November so can't be ruled out.
Foxtail Hill (IRE) 20-1 (11-0) Tracked leaders, not fluent 2nd, went 2nd 4 out until 3 out, weakened 2 out, last of 6, 42l behind Vyta Du Roc (11-7) at Cheltenham 2m nov hdl G2 (1) sft in Nov.
Ascendant 50-1 (10-7) Mid-division, pushed along after 3rd, weakened before 3 out, 10th of 23, 19l behind Ebony Express (10-7) at Sandown 2m hcp hdl Grade 3 (1) gs in Mar.
Taaresh (IRE) 14-1 (10-4) Held up towards rear, headway after 6th, switched right before last, not much roon at hurdle, no extra flat, 5th of 10, 9l behind Smart Ruler (10-4) at Musselburgh 2m hcp hdl 0-145 (2) gd in Nov.
Bombadero (IRE) 7-1 (10-4) Held up behind in touch, headway 3 out, led on long run between last 2, headed approaching last, kept on same pace, 2nd of 9, 1l behind Oyster Shell (11-8) at Stratford 2m hcp hdl 0-135 (3) gd in Mar.
Future Security (IRE) 16-1 (11-8) In rear, mistake and struggling 5th, never involved, 7th of 9, 21l behind Ozzy Thomas (11-10) at Towcester 2m hcp hdl 0-120 (4) gd in Mar.
Red Inca 6-1 (11-2) Held up, ridden and headway 2 out, chased winner next, no impression, 2nd of 8, 7l behind Boss Des Mottes (10-12) at Fakenham 2m hcp hdl 0-125 (3) gd in Mar.
