held up in rear, headway into midfield before 9th, travelling well when pressed leader 4 out, soon ridden, not fluent 3 out, weakened into 3rd last, kept on same pace run-in
midfield, dropped to last before 9th, ridden and outpaced before 4 out, stayed on into 3rd 2 out, took 2nd last, stayed on run-in but no match for easy winner
chased leader, pressed leader 4 out where not fluent, soon driven, dropped to last 2 out, kept on same pace approaching last
made all, pressed for lead 4 out, soon ridden, 3 lengths clear 2 out, extended advantage approaching last, eased down close home, comfortably
Diamond State has won three times around here including last time he raced in this grade. Hold Onto The Line is also something of a course specialist and made a winning start over fences here in November but Restandbethankful has changed stables since pulled up at Taunton in December. CARTONNE has gone up 8lb for scoring over course and distance last month but Theo Gillard claims 3lb and Donald McCain’s gelding still looks well treated on his hurdles form.
Restandbethankful 40-1 (12-0) Mid-division, hampered by faller 4th, ridden after 4 out, soon beaten and pulled up before 3 out, at Taunton 2m 7f hcp (4) gs in Dec.
Diamond State (FR) 50-1 (10-5) Held up last, mistake 4th, left in 4th place at 10th, well held when mistake 3 out, went modest 3rd soon after next, 3rd of 6, 21l behind Notlongtillmay (11-6) at Musselburgh 2m 4f hcp (3) gs in Feb.
Hold Onto The Line (IRE) 11-4 (11-10) Close up, led 2nd, asked for effort when joined before 3 out, rallied and took clear lead before last, kept on run-in, just held on, won at Musselburgh 2m 4f hcp (4) gs in Nov beating Massini Man (11-6) by shd, 8 ran.
Cartonne (FR) 11-2 (11-13) Made all, soon 10 lengths clear, reduced lead when ran wide into straight 4 out, ridden clear again 2 out, eased flat, won at Musselburgh 2m 4f hcp (5) gs in Feb beating Dr Shirocco (10-4) by 5 1/2l, 9 ran.
