jumped right throughout, prominent, led after 9th, headed before 2 out, soon rallied, no extra after last
very slowly away, detached in rear, took closer order halfway, kept on into 4th approaching last, never a threat
tracked leaders, hampered 3 out, led before next, stayed on strongly
chased leaders, under pressure 3 out, weakened next
held up in rear but in touch, slow 6th, headway 4 out, chased leaders next, 2nd approaching last, kept on under pressure
led, hampered start, mistake 9th, soon headed, mistake 11th, weakened after 3 out
Finnegan's Garden has the best recent form with a victory at Fontwell but the likely fast ground is a worry for him but Hit The Highway drops in class on the back of a string of poor efforts. Don Des Fosses went close at Sedgefield in February but quickly reverted to his more usual modest form last time while Flashman has won just the once in 16 attempts over fences and Mrs Burbidge has yet to score over the larger obstacles. That leaves WESTERN MORNING, a winner on good going over 2m4f at Leicester earlier in the year and capable of going close in this having finished runner-up over today’s shorter trip at Taunton subsequently.
Hit The Highway (IRE) 9-4 (11-5) Led to before 2nd, tracked leaders, lost place 5 out, soon outpaced, weakened 3 out, tailed off, 5th of 6, 29 1/2l behind Minella For Me (12-1) at Kempton 3m hcp (4) gs in Mar.
Don Des Fosses (FR) 7-1 (10-8) Never going in rear, tailed off throughout, last of 8, dist behind Timoteo (11-8) at Stratford 2m 1f hcp (4) gs in Mar.
Finnegan's Garden (IRE) 5-1 (11-0) Close up, tracked leader 10th, led 2 out, driven out, won at Fontwell 2m 2f hcp (4) sft in Mar beating Le Coeur Net (12-3) by 1 1/2l, 6 ran.
Western Morning (IRE) 4-1 (11-6) Held up in last trio, chased leaders before 4 out, driven and one pace after next, ridden after 2 out, chased front pair before last, never on terms, lost 3rd near finish, 4th of 7, 6 3/4l behind Tudors Treasure (11-3) at Exeter 2m 3f hcp (5) gs in Mar.
Mrs Burbidge 5-1 (9-6) Held up in mid-division, effort 2f out, one pace over 1f out, not much room inside final furlong, weakened, 8th of 12, 6 3/4l behind Dolphin Village (9-1) at Wolverhampton 1m 4f hcp (6) pol in Feb.
Flashman 16-1 (11-6) Mid-division, lost place from 6th, struggling from 8th, badly hampered 5 out, 5th of 9, dist behind Torrent Des Mottes (11-1) at Huntingdon 2m hcp (5) gd in Mar.
