led, ridden 2 out, headed next, rallied to lead again flat, stayed on gamely
pressed winner, hit 7th, every chance 3 out, driven out flat, stayed on towards finish
close up in rear, good headway when landed awkwardly 4 out and unseated rider
tracked leaders, switched left 3 out, every chance next, jumped left and led last, headed flat, no extra
close up, pushed along 5 out, weakened 2 out
Lalor is beginning to look a busted flush but the remaining quartet all have claims, though Barton Knoll would have preferred quicker conditions. Al Dancer hinted at a return to form at Chepstow but DUBLIN FOUR, a winner twice over these fences last year, and Dorking Lad can fight out the finish. Both ran respectably in higher grade last time with Fergal O’Brien’s eight-year-old just looking the pick of the weights.
Lalor (GER) 25-1 (11-11) Raced wide, never closer than mid-division, towards rear 8th, tailing off when pulled up before 12th, at Kempton 3m hcp (1) gs in Feb.
Al Dancer (FR) 5-2 (11-11) Led after 1st, headed 2nd, led 3rd until 6th, ridden 5 out, outpaced and held after 3 out, kept on flat, 3rd of 5, 4 1/4l behind Destined To Shine (10-4) at Chepstow 2m hcp (2) hvy in Feb.
Dublin Four (IRE) 5-1 (10-6) Held up in rear, mistake 2 out, closed from 11th, no impression on winner from 4 out, looked like challenging for 2nd from 2 out until after last, lost 4th close home, 5th of 10, 22 3/4l behind Paint The Dream (11-11) at Newbury 2m 4f hcp (1) sft in Mar.
Barton Knoll 4-1 (10-4) Held up in last pair, closed 4 out, not fluent 3 out, jumped left last, went 2nd flat, not trouble winner, 2nd of 4, 2l behind Schiehallion Munro (11-5) at Wetherby 2m 3f hcp (2) gd in Feb.
Dorking Lad 6-1 (11-1) Held up last, hit 12th and next, driven along and headway out wide chasing leaders when not fluent 3 out, soon ridden, went modest 3rd between last two, 3rd of 6, 12 1/4l behind Killer Kane (11-0) at Sandown 2m 4f hcp lst (1) gs in Mar.
