tracked leaders, mistake 10th, outpaced 3 out, soon beaten
with leader led after 7th, ridden and headed approaching 2 out, kept on same pace, no chance with front pair before last
chased leaders early, mid-division, lost place and behind 9th, tailed off when pulled up 5 out
led to after 7th, tracked leader, lost place 5 out, weakened 3 out, tailed off
mid-division, tracked leaders from 4th, effort to lead approaching 2 out, soon hard pressed, ridden and held on under pressure flat
behind, struggling 5 out, never near leaders
mid-division, headway when mistake 10th, tracked leaders 4 out, challenged 2 out, ridden and every chance flat, kept on, just held
Hollins won over course and distance in December but hasn't been seen since and is 10lb higher now. Pensnett Bay is another course winner but has been well beaten in all starts this season and Gentle Bob probably needs a bit more off his current mark, though should be thereabouts again. Lord of Drums is probably more effective on better ground but is another with each-way claims, though we'd like to give another chance to KINGCORA. He was still going well when unseating his rider at Fontwell last time and earlier efforts at Exeter and Ascot suggest he should be well up to winning a race like this.
Kingcora (FR) 10-11fav (11-12) Tracking leaders in 3rd when blundered badly and unseated rider 7th, in a race won by Itoldyou (11-4) at Fontwell 2m 6f hcp chs 0-115 (4) hvy in Feb, 6 ran.
Pensnett Bay 9-1 (11-7) Led, blundered 2nd, jumped left 3 out, ridden and headed next, no chance with winner, 2nd of 6, 17l behind Freckle Face (11-5) at Towcester 2m 3f hcp chs 0-120 (4) hvy in Feb.
Hollins 6-1 (10-3) Held up in last pair in touch, headway under pressure after 5 out, chased leading pair next, led 2 out, clear last, ridden out flat, won at Uttoxeter 2m 4f hcp chs 0-115 (4) hvy in Dec beating Ratify (10-9) by 5l, 8 ran.
Itsuptoyou (IRE) 33-1 (9-12) Held up last, went modest 3rd after 4 out, jumped left final 3, dropped to 4th last, 4th of 5, 40l behind Sound Investment (10-9) at Taunton 2m (3) hvy in Feb.
Lord Of Drums (IRE) 15-2 (11-11) Tracked leader, blundered 5 out, soon weakened, 3rd of 9, 8l behind Alpha One (11-12) at Musselburgh 2m 4f hcp ch 0-110 (4) gs in Feb.
Crystal Swing 9-1 (11-6) Prominent on outside, hit 1st, ridden and lost place after 7th, blundered and weakened 4 out, pulled up before 2 out, in a race won by Hollow Blue Sky (11-7) at Huntingdon 2m 4f hcp chs 0-115 (4) sft in Feb, 8 ran.
Material Boy 8-1 (10-12) Tracked leaders early, soon lost place, never jumped well, behind approaching 13th, pulled up after 15th, in a race won by Leg Iron (11-3) at Warwick 3m 5f hcp chs 0-120 (4) gs in Dec, 10 ran.
Tiquer (FR) 33-1 (11-12) Held up in rear, not fluent 3rd, mistake 9th, stayed on from 2 out, never in contention, 6th of 13, 21l behind River Purple (10-7) at Uttoxeter 2m 4f nov hcp chs 0-100 (5) sft in Dec.
Gentle Bob (IRE) 11-2 (11-12) Led, mistake 4th, ridden and joined approaching 2 out, headed when not fluent last, one pace and no impression flat, 2nd of 8, 12l behind Hollow Blue Sky (11-7) at Huntingdon 2m 4f hcp chs 0-115 (4) sft in Feb.
