took keen hold and not always fluent, behind, tailed off form 5th, pulled up before 2 out
held up in mid-division, some headway 3 out, weakened before next
prominent, led 3rd, headed next, weakened 3 out, pulled up before next
chased leaders, ridden before 2 out, soon no extra
held up towards rear, took keen hold, headway 3 out, no extra next
mid-division, pushed along and struggling 6th, weakened before 2 out
prominent, led 7th, edged left after 2 out, clear when edged left last, comfortably
not fluent, led, headed and reminder 3rd, led next, headed 7th, weakened 2 out
held up in mid-division, headway 7th, mistake 3 out, chased winner before 2 out, no impression last
held up in mid-division, weakened before 2 out
Storm Arising is eased in grade after a staying-on fifth at Chepstow but this sharper track may not play to his strengths. VIS A VIS (NAP) finished fourth in last year’s Cesarewitch and looked as though he had a future over hurdles when second to a more-experienced rival at Carlisle. He’ll strip fitter and know more today and can go one better. Lord Duveen tries a new trip but should be thereabouts if he stays while a switch to hurdles is likely to see Palixandre in a better light. Talktomenow came up against a useful novice at Plumpton in November but weakened quickly next time at Warwick.
Avoir De Soins (IRE) 5-2jfav (10-12) Pulled hard in rear, pushed along and struggling when fell inside final 3f, at Ffos Las 2m (5) sft in Nov.
Banana Joe (IRE) 6-1 (11-0) Keen, disputed lead at steady pace until ridden 2f out, weakened final furlong, 6th of 7, 8 3/4l behind Calum Gilhooley (11-0) at Bangor-on-Dee 2m 1f (5) sft in Dec.
Dawn Sunrise (IRE) 200-1 (11-3) Prominent, lost place after 7th, well beaten before 3 out, 13th of 14, dist behind Dickie Diver (11-3) at Chepstow 2m 3f mdn (4) gs in Feb.
Lord Duveen (IRE) 8-1 (11-2) Tracked leader, under pressure after 3 out, stayed on same pace after next, 4th of 11, 17 1/4l behind River Bray (11-2) at Wincanton 1m 7f (4) gd in Feb.
Palixandre (FR) 13-8fav (10-12) Held up in touch, driven over 1f out, one pace and beaten after, 5th of 7, 6 3/4l behind Genius (10-12) at Southwell 2m (5) gd in May.
Pres (IRE) 9-4 (11-11) Chsd ldrs, 5th 1/2way, gd prog to 2nd 3out, drpd to 3rd sn aftr, nt mtch front pair appr str, ko onepce, 3rd of 8, 11l behind Killer Clown (11-11) at Corbeagh House 3m mdn sft in Dec.
Storm Arising (IRE) 14-1 (11-2) Held up towards rear, headway 4th, not quicken before 2 out, kept on flat, 5th of 16, 8 3/4l behind Lisnagar Oscar (11-2) at Chepstow 2m 3f (4) gs in Jan.
Talktomenow 4-1 (11-0) Prominent, led when not fluent 3rd, headed 6th, led next until 4 out, soon weakened, 11th of 17, dist behind Birchdale (11-0) at Warwick 2m 5f mdn (4) gs in Dec.
Vis A Vis 5-2 (11-3) Held up towards rear, headway from 6th, not fluent next, challenging when awkward 2 out, held by winner flat, kept on, 2nd of 11, 2 3/4l behind Hill Sixteen (11-3) at Carlisle 2m 3f (4) gs in Feb.
West Chinnock 5-1 (12-0) Led to 9; 4th & wkng when fell 13, at Barbury Racecourse 3m mdn in Dec.
Endless Flight (IRE) 8-1 (11-5) Held up in rear, awkward on home turn, kept on final 2f, almost snatched 3rd, 4th of 9, 12 1/2l behind New Age Dawning (11-5) at Exeter 2m 1f mdn (5) gs in Jan.
