pressed leader, reminders 8th, led next, hit 10th, jumped right 2 out, joined last, hard ridden and edged slightly left flat, held on
led until 9th, mistake 11th, every chance after 2 out, no extra flat
tracked leaders, pushed along after 10th, weakened next, pulled up before 3 out
held up in touch in rear, closed 11th, mistake 4 out, outpaced next, rallied 2 out, challenged last, brushed slightly by winner flat, just held
Lemon Drop Red showed promise on his fencing bow at Newton Abbot but didn't follow that up in two starts at Market Rasen last year and has an absence to overcome. Billfromthebar is also returning from a break but did rattle up a hat-trick over timber last season and is bred to jump fences. Golden Hoof only found one too good on his chasing debut at Kempton when HANDAZAN was third but the latter blew up on his first start since November after travelling well to three out - he can reverse that form here. Hold Court returned to form at Ludlow last month, though was well beaten at Haydock subsequently.
Billfromthebar (IRE) 7-2 (11-5) Disputed lead throughout until led 7th, strongly challenged when mistake 3 out, headed after last, rallied to lead again closing stages, stayed on gamely, won at Hexham 3m nh nov hdl (4) gs in Oct beating Simarthur (10-12) by ns, 4 ran.
Golden Hoof (IRE) 6-1 (11-0) Led, went left 11th, headed before 3 out, driven in 3rd after 3 out, rallied into 2nd 2 out, upsides and every chance last, kept on under pressure run-in, always just held, 2nd of 7, 1 1/4l behind Rum And Butter (11-0) at Kempton 2m 4f beg chase (3) gd.
Handazan (IRE) 8-1 (11-0) Tracked leaders, left in 3rd place at 3rd, led before 3 out, hit 3 out and soon headed, went 2nd before 8th, led before 3 out, hit 3 out and soon headed, no extra in 3rd 2 out, beaten when blundered last, 3rd of 7, 11l behind Rum And Butter (11-0) at Kempton 2m 4f beg chase (3) gd.
Hold Court (IRE) 14-1 (11-7) Towards rear, headway into mid-division on outside 5th, lost place 3 out, soon weakened, last of 16, 39l behind Carlton Jack (10-11) at Haydock 2m 4f hcp hdl (2) gd in Apr.
Lemon Drop Red (USA) 5-4fav (11-0) With leader, led 4th, headed narrowly 8th, not fluent 10th, led again briefly after 4 out, lost place next, soon weakened, lost moderate 3rd 2 out, tailed off, last of 4, well behind Violets Boy (11-0) at Market Rasen 2m 4f nov chs (4) gd in Aug.
