led until before 2nd, led 4th, jumped left 7th, mistake 16th (water), pressed 2 out, headed narrowly last, stayed on, held towards finish
mid-division, not fluent 6th, headway to chase leader after 12th until 13th, ridden after 3 out, 5th and no extra from next
chased leaders, not fluent 6th, lost place after 12th, ridden 15th, weakened 4 out
pressed leader, led before 2nd, headed 4th, pushed along after 9th, lost 2nd after next, struggling from 13th, behind 15th
held up in rear, headway from 4 out, went 3rd 2 out, ridden and no impression on leading pair, stayed on
tracked leaders, 2nd 13th, ridden 3 out, 4th when not fluent 2 out, well held after
held up in rear, not fluent 8th, headway when blundered 15th, challenged 2 out, led narrowly last, stayed on well, in command towards finish
NonRunner
Willoughby Hedge doesn’t have many miles on the clock and was back in the groove here last month in a race in which veteran Pete The Feat weakened quickly having been prominent on the first circuit. Masters Hill has found some form lately and is preferred to stablemate Fourth Act but hasn’t won in more than two years and Warwick winner Shanroe Santos has more scope having had just the five starts over the larger obstacles. UPSWING continues his tumble down the weights and is now only a pound higher than when last in the winner’s enclosure. He’s run well around Cheltenham so should handle these stiff fences.
Masters Hill (IRE) 15-2 (10-13) Chased leading pair, went 2nd 12th, no chance with winner before 2 out, weakened run-in, lost modest 2nd post, 3rd of 12, 5 1/4l behind Perfect Candidate (11-12) at Exeter 3m hcp (2) sft in Feb.
Fourth Act (IRE) 12-1 (11-2) Always in rear, 6th of 14, 22 3/4l behind Tobefair (11-0) at Warwick 3m 2f hcp (2) sft in Jan.
Willoughby Hedge 8-1 (11-2) Tracked leaders, went 2nd 14th, hit next, led narrowly 4 out, ridden after 3 out, in command after 2 out, stayed on strongly, won at Sandown 3m hcp (3) sft in Feb beating King Of Glory (10-6) by 2l, 9 ran.
Umberto D'olivate (FR) 12-1 (11-12) Tracked leaders, lost place before 2nd, slow and last 5th, hampered and unseated rider 9th, at Warwick 3m hcp (3) sft in Feb.
Upswing (IRE) 12-1 (11-5) Held up towards rear, ridden after 4 out, closed after next, went 3rd last, no extra flat, 3rd of 8, 9 1/4l behind Blameitalonmyroots (10-8) at Kempton 3m hcp (3) gs in Feb.
Morney Wing (IRE) 33-1 (11-0) Behind, blundered 1st and soon badly hampered, blundered 11th, pulled up before next, at Newcastle 4m 1f hcp (2) sft in Feb.
Shanroe Santos (IRE) 5-1 (11-5) In rear, headway 7th, lost place when hit 10th, closed from 12th, 2nd after 4 out, mistake 2 out, not fluent last, driven to lead flat, stayed on, won at Warwick 3m hcp (3) sft in Feb beating Future Gilded (11-6) by 1/2l, 9 ran.
Pete The Feat (IRE) 6-1 (11-10) Chased leader, not fluent 1st, led 2nd, hit 6th, headed after 11th, chased leader until hit next and stumbled, chased leaders, lost place 13th, weakened and struggling went right 17th, tailed off, 5th of 9, 25 1/4l behind Willoughby Hedge (11-2) at Sandown 3m hcp (3) sft in Feb.
