tracked leading pair, not fluent 2nd, went 2nd 10th, pushed along after 3 out, blundered next, soon held and no chance with easy winner
made most, headed briefly 5th, clear after 3 out, stayed on strongly, eased run-in
pressed winner, hit 2nd, led briefly 5th, went left next, reminders after 8th, went left and lost 2nd 10th, outpaced before 13th, tailed off and pulled up before 3 out
Spirit Of Shankly should find this easier than recent tests but his jumping remains a concern. ROYALRAISE (NAP) has done well over hurdles considering he's always looked a chaser in the making. He won between the flags when only a four-year-old and can get off the mark over the larger obstacles under Rules at the first time of asking. Yanmare is tried in a visor but it would need to bring about massive improvement on his efforts to date.
Royalraise (IRE) 9-2 (10-9) Chased leaders, 2nd after 8th, led 13th, slight lead and pressed from 3 out, ridden and headed last, kept on same pace run-in, 2nd of 9, 2 1/2l behind Saint Roque (11-8) at Taunton 2m 7f hcp (3) gs in Nov.
Spirit Of Shankly 8-1 (10-13) Tracked leaders, mistake 1st, slow 4th, soon lost place, mistake 9th, struggling in rear next, pulled up 5 out, at Haydock 2m 7f hcp (2) hvy in Dec.
Yanmare (IRE) 50-1 (11-0) Tracked leaders on outside, mistake when hampered and unseated rider 6th, at Leicester 2m 7f (3) hvy in Mar.
