in touch, improved over 5f out, led over 1f out, soon hung right, driven out
held up in rear, headway over 3f out, ridden over 2f out, challenging over 1f out, soon intimidated by rival jockeys whip and carried right, weakened towards finish
mid-division, raced keenly, bumped along and lost place over 3f out
steadied start, held up in rear, raced keenly, switched right and headway over 2f out, hung right entering straight, soon edged left and challenging, hung right inside final furlong, held towards finish
prominent, squeezed along over 3f out, ridden over 2f out, weakened over 1f out
held up towards rear, pushed along over 3f out, never in contention
led, headed over 1f out, weakened inside final furlong
chased leader until over 8f out, pushed along over 6f out, weakened over 3f out
tracked leaders, 2nd over 5f out, challenging over 2f out, weakened over 1f out
A very tricky race for punters here and while he has gone up plenty in the weights LAUREL CREEK is taken to complete a hat-trick at the main expense of Merrion Tiger. The selection Laurel Creek has been well placed by his trainer this winter and has picked up a couple of wins here in his last two starts. Both successes were plenty easy enough, so the handicapper has put him up a total of 18lbs for them. Whilst that may look harsh he is still unexposed at this trip and with none of the others looking bombproof we are going to stick with him. Merrion Tiger looks next best after a couple of Southwell successes that have seen him rise 9lb in the weights. He acted well enough here on one previous try and is entitled to be thereabouts. River Ardeche also acts here and stays two miles over hurdles. Patrick Haslam does not have a reputation for wasting anyone's time and presumably he thinks the gelding will stay this far on the level too, and the market should be a good guide. Phoenix Flight has been dropped 2lbs despite winning a claimer last time but his form is good enough to entitle him to plenty of respect, especially given his connections. Mr Aitch is weighted to be competitive once again, while Monaadi inspired little confidence with his latest effort and Laurel Creek is the one for us.
Laurel Creek (IRE) 9-4fav (9-0) Tracked leaders, led over 3f out, quicken clear over 2f out, eased near finish, won at W'hampton 1m 4f hcp 0-75 (5) pol in Feb beating Star Choice (8-7) by 2 1/2l, 11 ran.
Mr Aitch (IRE) 11-1 (9-7) Held up in rear, headway over 2f out, ridden to challenge over 1f out, kept on same pace, 2nd of 6, 1l behind Benhego (9-4) at Lingfield 2m hcp 0-85 (4) pol.
Fort Churchill (IRE) 33-1 (11-1) Mid-division, headway 3f out, chased leading pair and hung left 2f out, weakened final furlong, 6th of 17, 14l behind Alsadaa (10-5) at Ascot 1m 4f amt hcp 0-80 (4) gd in Sept.
Phoenix Flight (IRE) 11-10fav (9-5) Keen, held up in rear, switched right and wide into straight 2f out, soon ridden, ran on strongly to lead just inside final furlong, won at Lingfield 1m 4f clm (6) pol beating Sunset Boulevard (8-10) by 1 1/2l, 6 ran.
Mission Control (IRE) 11-8fav (8-10) Tracked leader after 3f, ridden and every chance 2f out, one pace from over 1f out, 3rd of 6, 3l behind Mr Aitch (9-1) at Lingfield 2m hcp 0-85 (4) pol in Feb.
Zuwaar 3-1 (9-4) Held up 5th, headway into 3rd over 2f out, no impression on leaders, weakened final furlong, 5th of 8, 7l behind Greenwich Village (9-13) at Kempton 2m hcp 0-85 (4) pol in Jan.
Miss Serena 8-1 (8-12) Tracked leaders, led inside final furlong, soon headed, kept on same pace, 5th of 6, 3l behind Benhego (9-4) at Lingfield 2m hcp 0-85 (4) pol.
Merrion Tiger (IRE) 6-5fav (9-6) Tracked leaders, ridden to lead over 1f out, held on gamely final furlong, won at Southwell 2m hcp 0-65 (6) fbs in Feb beating Blue Hills (9-10) by 1/2l, 5 ran.
Monaadi (IRE) 4-1 (9-1) Led, clear after 5f, ridden and headed over 1f out, soon weakened, 3rd of 6, 14l behind Bold Adventure (9-5) at W'hampton 2m 1f hcp 0-75 (5) pol.
River Ardeche 14-1 (8-2) Made all, quickened clear over 2f out, held on well towards finish, won at Southwell 1m 4f hcp 0-85 (4) fbs in Jan beating Take Me There (8-11) by 1/2l, 10 ran.
