pulled hard and held up last, headway on inside 4th, ran wide bend after, led on bit 3 out, ridden and headed approaching next, no extra
chased leaders, ridden approaching 3 out, soon weakened
prominent, hampered bend after 4th, ridden and weakened 5th
towards rear, headway approaching 3 out, soon ridden, chased winner approaching 2 out, hit last, not quicken
mid-division, headway approaching 5th, ridden and weakened approaching 2 out
led, ridden and headed 3 out, rallied to lead approaching 2 out, ran on well, flat
prominent, pushed wide and lost place after 4th, ridden and headway approaching 5th, weakened approaching 3 out
Dark Energy won hard held at Huntingdon on Monday and a reproduction of that effort should see Michael Scudamore's four-year-old defy his 7lb penalty and follow up here, getting the verdict ahead of Strong Survivor and Party Palace. The last mentioned showed signs of a return to form here earlier this month but he would need to improve significantly on that effort to trouble the selection so looks best watched. Ryedale Ovation has shown little sign of ability in previous limited starts over hurdles and has given no real sign of encouragement in recent starts on the flat so he is readily discounted. Bond Cruz has run creditably in recent starts and should be thereabouts but a bigger threat is likely to come from Paul Webber's Strong Survivor, who could do better now sent handicapping. Dark Energy won with so much in hand at Huntingdon that he is hard to oppose though and he gets the vote to follow up.
Dark Energy 7-1 (11-2) Held up in rear, hampered 4th, headway approaching 3 out, led on bit last, soon clear, easily, won at Huntingdon 2m hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gf beating Aleemdar (10-6) by 4 1/2l, 10 ran.
Strong Survivor (USA) 13-2 (11-0) Mid-division, headway approaching 7th, not fluent 3 out, soon weakened, 4th of 11, 38l behind Corkage (11-0) at Bangor 2m 4f mdn hdl (4) gf.
Bond Cruz 12-1 (10-12) Took keen hold, held up towards rear, never nearer, 4th of 11, 22l behind Rawaabet (11-5) at Southwell 2m 1f sll hdl (5) gd.
Raise Again (IRE) 22-1 (10-8) Mid-division, headway after 3 out, effort approaching 2 out, soon weakened, 5th of 12, 22l behind Histoire De Moeurs (10-2) at N Abbot 2m 1f hcp hdl (3) gd.
Ryedale Ovation (IRE) 12-1 (10-11) Prominent, led after 4th, ridden and headed 6th, soon weakened, 12th of 16, well behind I'm A Legend (10-9) at Taunton 2m 1f cnd hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gd in Feb.
Party Palace 22-1 (10-5) Prominent, led 5th, soon ridden, headed next, weakened 2 out, 4th of 12, 10l behind Histoire De Moeurs (10-2) at N Abbot 2m 1f hcp hdl (3) gd.
Keyneema 16-1 (10-7) Tracked leaders, hit 3 out, soon ridden, weakened before next, 4th of 7, 14l behind Option Money (11-5) at N Abbot 2m 1f nov hdl (4) sft.
