led, not fluent 3 out, ridden 2 out, headed last, 3rd and held towards finish
held up in touch, shaken up 2 out, 3rd last, went 2nd and stayed on flat, every chance towards finish, just held
mid-division, not fluent 2nd or 3 out, effort before next, no impression in 6th last
held up towards rear, pushed along after 3 out, weakened before next
always behind, struggling 7th, pulled up before 2 out
tracked leaders, not fluent 2nd, hampered after 3 out, switched left before last, one pace flat
tracked leader until jumped slowly 1st, stayed in touch, ridden 2 out, 7th and weakening last
took keen hold, tracked leader 1st, led last, driven out
mid-division, not fluent 4th, outpaced before 2 out, soon weakened
mid-division, lost place 5th, weakened before 2 out
held up towards rear, headway from 6th, ridden 2 out, 5th and no extra last
Stop The Press won over course and distance in January and probably didn't get home tackling further next time at Chepstow, though is conceding weight all round today. SPACE ODDITY raced much too freely at Ludlow and will need to settle better to last this longer trip but he'll probably take all the beating if doing so. El Bandit hasn't raced since disappointing in a Wincanton bumper last April but will know what's required – he may be a better long-term prospect than stable companion Beau Phil. Nice Thoughts and Dragoon Guard both won the Flat. The former was the more consistent and could be a threat to all if embracing this new challenge.
Stop The Press 16-1 (11-5) Tracked leader, disputed lead after 8th, driven when not fluent 4 out, soon lost place, weakened 2 out, 8th of 10, dist behind Wild West Wind (10-12) at Chepstow 3m (4) hvy in Feb.
Beau Phil (FR) 11-1 (11-4) Mid-division, headway under pressure 3 out, soon no impression, 12th of 13, dist behind Gala Ball (11-4) at Wincanton 1m 7f (4) sft in Jan.
Dragoon Guard (IRE) 16-1 (9-4) In touch, ridden over 1f out, kept on same pace, 7th of 13, 3 3/4l behind Whinging Willie (9-5) at Kempton 1m 3f hcp (5) pol in Jan.
El Bandit (IRE) 9-4jfav (10-12) In touch in rear, pushed along and green 5f out, lost touch over 3f out, last of 6, 19 1/4l behind Bon Enfant (10-12) at Wincanton 2m (6) gd in Apr.
Inthenicoftime 100-1 (11-3) Tracked leaders, weakened over 5f out, tailed off, last of 9, dist behind Chalonnial (10-7) at Wincanton 1m 7f (6) hvy in Feb.
Justatenner 8-1 (11-5) Held up towards rear, headway and hit 3 out, one pace from next, 3rd of 9, 9 3/4l behind Stop The Press (11-5) at Taunton 2m 3f (4) hvy in Jan.
Late Shipment 25-1 (11-6) Held up in rear, headway after 7th, no impression 3 out, weakened next, hanging left flat, 7th of 13, 25l behind Battle Of Shiloh (11-6) at Ludlow 2m 5f mdn (5) hvy in Jan.
Space Oddity (FR) 6-4fav (11-5) Took keen hold, led 1st, clear with one other after 3rd, headed narrowly before next, led again before 3 out, headed when mistake last, no extra, 4th of 8, 8l behind Britanio Bello (11-5) at Ludlow 2m mdn (5) sft in Feb.
Tell Tony (IRE) 100-1 (11-3) Tracked leaders, ridden and weakened from 3 out, last of 8, dist behind Captain Chaos (11-10) at Exeter 2m 3f (4) sft in Feb.
The Model County (IRE) 100-1 (10-12) With winner, not fluent 1st, lost 2nd 5th, losing place next, weakened after 7th, pulled up before 3 out, at Leicester 2m 4f (4) hvy in Jan.
Nice Thoughts (IRE) 5-1 (9-4) Tracked leader, led 2f out, pushed out, won at Lingfield 1m hcp (5) pol in Oct beating Real Smart (9-2) by 1 1/2l, 8 ran.
