close up, headway to track leaders 8th, pushed along next, ridden and every chance from 2 out, driven to lead flat, ran on
close up, ridden 3 out, kept on one pace from next
in touch in rear, reminders 7th, ridden 3 out, one pace from next
tracked leaders, led approaching 3 out, ridden and joined next, headed flat, no extra and lost 2nd towards finish
tracked leader until pushed along 4 out, weakened approaching next
ridden along to soon lead, pushed along 7th, ridden and headed approaching 3 out, rallied flat to go 2nd towards finish
Isaacstown Lad wasn't beaten far on heavy ground in this last year and had dropped 7lb in the ratings when scoring on soft going at Carlisle in December. He goes well fresh so the lack of a recent run won't be a problem. Know The Score comfortably landed a maiden over 2m4f at Hexham but didn't make the expected progress when tackling an extra 3f at Bangor. Skipthescales has been doing well over fences but can revert to hurdles on a lower mark despite three victories over the smaller obstacles. Minella Warrior started out with two victories over hurdles and was only beaten a neck at this grade at Huntingdon in January so will take some beating though the concession of 13lb, including jockey's claim, to DIAMOND FORT looks a tall order as Fergal O'Brien's charge, who completed a double when scoring over 2m3f here in 2017, very nearly got up over slightly shorter than this at Uttoxeter last time.
Minella Warrior (IRE) 13-2 (11-0) Tracked leaders, bumped after 3 out, led before next, hard pressed last, headed flat, stayed on, 2nd of 9, nk behind Not Many Left (11-7) at Huntingdon 3m 1f hcp (2) gs in Jan.
Isaacstown Lad (IRE) 6-1 (10-6) Tracked leaders, mistake 8th, driven before 2 out, ridden to lead between last 2, clear flat, kept on, won at Carlisle 3m 1f hcp (2) sft in Dec beating Lord Du Mesnil (10-2) by 3l, 7 ran.
Diamond Fort (IRE) 10-1 (11-7) Held up in touch on inside, chased front pair before 3 out, ridden after next, rallied to pres winner towards finish, just failed, 2nd of 8, shd behind Oh Land Abloom (12-0) at Uttoxeter 2m 7f hcp (3) gd in Feb.
Know The Score (IRE) 9-4 (11-5) Tracked leader, under pressure over 2 out, kept on same pace approaching last, 3rd of 6, 13 1/4l behind Two For Gold (11-5) at Bangor-on-Dee 2m 7f (4) gs in Jan.
Bryden Boy (IRE) 17-2 (11-5) Held up in touch, outpaced in 4th 3 out, never able to challenge, weakened next, 7th of 8, 36 1/2l behind Oh Land Abloom (12-0) at Uttoxeter 2m 7f hcp (3) gd in Feb.
Skipthescales (IRE) 7-2jfav (11-0) Chased leaders, lost place 8th, slow next, soon pushed along, under pressure when mistake 11th, tailed off before 5 out, 6th of 8, dist behind Lough Derg Farmer (10-7) at Carlisle 3m hcp (3) gs in Feb.
