held up in rear, steady headway approaching 3 out, went 2nd between last 2 until approaching the last, kept on same pace in 3rd
raced keenly, chased leader, led 4th, made rest, jumped right 6th, ridden clear before the last, stayed on
led until 4th, chased winner until after 6th, soon lost touch, tailed off 3 out, pulled up before last
in touch, pushed along at times, mistake and reminders after 4th, reminders and struggling in rear after 6th, tailed off
chased leaders, not fluent 1st, ridden and went 2nd approaching the last, kept on same pace, no chance with winner
in touch on inside, headway chasing leaders after 6th, outpaced after 2 out, no threat after
headway chasing leaders after 1st, went 2nd 2 out until between last 2, soon hung left and weakened
Nonrunner
Sailors Warn won a handicap here last August but has proved hard to place since and got nowhere near the winner when odds-on at Fakenham last month. Astrum was only beaten half-a-length in a higher grade at Sedgefield in February so must have every chance of going one better but DEEBAJ also has strong claims on these terms. Richard Price’s five-year-old has not won a race of any description but he was twice second in novice hurdles over this course and distance last spring and this intermediate distance could prove ideal. Poisoned Berry won at Exeter in November but she’s gone backwards since.
Sailors Warn (IRE) 4-6fav (11-5) Held up last, closer in 4th place after 4th, chased (clear) winner 7th, never able to challenge, hit last, 2nd of 5, 11l behind Caprice D'anglais (11-0) at Fakenham 2m (5) gd in Mar.
Astrum 9-2 (11-12) Close up, led before 2 out, headed run-in, kept on and held towards finish, 2nd of 7, 1/2l behind Dark And Dangerous (11-7) at Sedgefield 2m 1f hcp (4) sft in Feb.
Bourbon Prince 25-1 (11-12) Led to 3 out, one pace after, 3rd of 15, 14l behind Quill Art (11-1) at Doncaster 2m 1f hcp (5) gs in Jan.
Deebaj (IRE) 13-2 (10-10) Held up towards rear, outpaced after 4 out, stayed on well from 2 out, never on terms, 4th of 9, 10l behind Never Equalled (11-10) at Ffos Las 2m 4f hcp (3) sft in Mar.
Edgar (GER) 7-1 (11-12) Held up in last pair, dropped to last at 6th, reminders and outpaced after next, never on terms after, struggling when jumped right and hit 9th, last of 5, 25 1/2l behind Bertenbar (12-1) at Fontwell 2m 1f hcp (5) sft in Mar.
Poisoned Berry (IRE) 8-1 (11-4) Raced keenly, chased winner until mistake 6th, soon pushed along and weakened, tailed off from next, last of 4, dist behind Bound Hill (10-9) at Fontwell 2m 3f hcp (4) gs in Mar.
Perfect Timing (FR) 16-1 (10-1) Tracked leaders, outpaced 4 out, soon ridden, weakened from next, tailed off, 5th of 12, dist behind Braw Angus (11-12) at Huntingdon 2m 5f hcp (5) sft in Mar.
Howaboutnever (IRE) 40-1 (11-7) In touch in mid-division, mistake 2nd, ridden and struggling from 5th, last when not fluent 6th, pulled up before next, at Newbury 3m hcp (4) gs in Mar.
