tracked leader, led briefly after 2nd, dropped to 3rd next, pushed along after 3 out, well held 4th and wide home turn, went left 2 out and last, ridden and hung left run-in, plugged on in 3rd towards finish
tracked leaders, led after 3rd until before 3 out, les again 2 out, pushed along and headed between last two, stayed on same pace, no chance with winner when dropped to 3rd at the last, weakened into 4th towards finish
keen early, raced wide in close 4th, went 2nd going well 2 out, led between last two, soon clear, easily
off the pace in last pair, never involved
off the pace and always in rear, tailed off when went badly left 3 out, 2 out and last, never a factor
led on inside, headed briefly after 2nd, headed after next, chased leader, led again before 3 out until 2 out and dropped to 3rd, went 2nd again at the last, no chance with easy winner
Purple King should be all the better for a pipe-opener at Ffos Las and Alrightjack did win off a higher mark at Fontwell in November, though that was on good going. Disappointing previously, Global Agreement has won three times since the beginning of December so can’t be ignored given he was racing from out of the handicap when fourth here last month but GREAT OCEAN (NAP) looks the one to beat. A progressive novice, he got off the mark with plenty in hand at Wincanton in January and an earlier second at Exeter could not have worked out much better.
Alrightjack (IRE) 17-2 (11-12) Mid-division on outside, headway after 3rd, challenging when not fluent next, weakened before 2 out, 6th of 10, 24 1/4l behind The Street (11-4) at Chepstow 2m 3f hcp (4) sft in Feb.
Great Ocean (FR) 5-4fav (11-6) Close up, led approaching 2 out, soon clear, comfortably, won at Wincanton 1m 7f mdn (4) sft in Jan beating Tarahumara (11-6) by 5l, 12 ran.
Purple King (IRE) 28-1 (11-9) Held up rear of mid-division, in touch before 3 out, well beaten 2 out, 5th of 9, 27l behind Fontana Ellissi (11-6) at Ffos Las 2m hcp (4) gs in Feb.
Storm Rising (IRE) 33-1 (11-2) Mistake 2nd, behind next, mistake 5th, pulled up before 8th, at Fontwell 2m 2f hcp (4) gd in Nov.
Global Agreement 7-2 (11-1) Towards rear, stumbled and almost unseated rider 1st, pushed along and struggling before 3 out, rallied before awkward 2 out, went 4th run-in, 4th of 9, 14 1/4l behind Manucci (11-2) at Sandown 2m hcp (4) hvy in Feb.
Be My Sea (IRE) 33-1 (9-10) Tracked leaders on inside, lost place over 5f out, pushed along 4f out, soon outpaced, behind and no chance after, tailed off, last of 8, 10 1/2l behind Cochise (9-10) at Southwell 2m 2f hcp (5) pol in Feb.
