chased leaders, every chance 2 out, weakening when mistake last
held up in rear, headway after 2 out, never nearer
held up in touch, lost place 3 out, soon beaten
tracked leader, mistake 3rd, every chance 2 out, weakening when mistake last
led, strongly challneged 2 out, headed before last, soon lost place
mid-division, headway to chase leaders 3 out, hampered and lost place approaching bend before 2 out, soon rallied, chased easy winner after last, never able to challenge
mid-division, hampered and lost place approaching bend before 2 out, rallied approaching last, ran closing stages, never a threat
took keen hold in rear, headway to chase leaders before 3 out, weakened 2 out
in touch, short of room after 3 out, chased leaders 2 out, weakened before last
mid-division, headway 4 out, chased leaders next, stayed on same pace after last
held up in rear, headway when not much room after 3 out, no impression
prominent, mistake 4 out, soon lost place, rallied to chase leaders again after next, mistake last, no extra
keen in rear, headway after 2 out, chased leaders last, never on terms
held up in touch, headway 5 out, mistake 3 out, every chance 2 out, led before last, drew clear, hard held, impressive
mid-division, slow 4th, headway 3 out, chasing leaders when mistake next, soon lost place
NonRunner
Paul Nicholls has won two of the last three renewals and is double-handed this year. Scaramanga landed the odds in a Taunton maiden earlier this month and makes more appeal than Deadline Diva. Praeceps ran well in the Fred Winter at Cheltenham after placing here in a Grade 2 and goes on the short-list while Legal History just came up short over a longer trip last time at Newbury, though the staying-on fifth Groveman is better off at the weights and could turn the tables. Liva has won twice at Musselburgh but the current form of his stable is cause for concern. Le Milos beat a subsequent winner at Sandown but that was on very testing ground. The form of QUANTATMENTAL’s win at Fairyhouse last month hasn’t worked out but he was always travelling best and looks the type to progress again so gets a tentative vote.
Idilico (FR) 12-1 (11-9) Mid-division when blundered and unseated rider 3rd, at Newbury 2m 3f hcp (2) gs in Mar.
Praeceps (IRE) 16-1 (10-12) Chased leaders, effort after 5th, led 3 out, headed before last, beaten flat, no extra towards finish, 6th of 21, 7 1/4l behind Band of Outlaws (11-8) at Cheltenham 2m hcp (1) sft in Mar.
Liva (IRE) 10-3 (11-2) Raced keenly, tracked leader after 1st until before 3 out, badly hampered and left 2nd 3 out, hit next, led last, stayed on gamely, all out, won at Musselburgh 2m 4f hcp (3) gs in Mar beating Desert Island Dusk (10-13) by shd, 6 ran.
Zafar (GER) 11-10fav (10-7) Mid-division, headway chasing leaders 6th, went 2nd 4 out until 2 out, kept on same pace in 3rd, 3rd of 13, 12l behind Tarada (11-3) at Fontwell 2m 3f (4) gs in Feb.
Le Milos 20-1 (11-10) Held up last, driven along after 3 out, headway on outside in 3rd before 2 out, went 2nd 2 out, ridden and closer before last, stayed on strongly to lead run-in, won at Sandown 2m hcp (3) sft in Mar beating The Knot Is Tied (11-9) by 4l, 6 ran.
Scaramanga (IRE) 1-2fav (10-8) Prominent, led 3 out, kept on strongly run-in, won at Taunton 2m mdn hcp (4) gs in Mar beating Melekhov (11-2) by 9l, 12 ran.
Quantatmental (IRE) 4-1 (10-4) Tracked leaders on outer, closer in 2nd at halfway, ridden to lead 2 out, mistake at last, stayed on well run-in, won at Fairyhouse 2m gd in Feb beating The Long Mile (11-2) by 2 3/4l, 7 ran.
Deadline Diva 25-1 (10-5) Raced keenly in rear, went right 4 out, no chance when flattened 2 out, 9th of 12, 31l behind Fusil Raffles (10-12) at Kempton 2m (1) gd in Feb.
Al Kherb 4-1 (10-7) Made all, kept on well from last, won at Catterick 2m mdn (5) gd in Feb beating Dagian (10-7) by 2 1/2l, 8 ran.
Groveman 15-2 (11-0) Held up behind, in rear when jumped slowly 4th, driven and kept on before last, never troubled leaders, 5th of 14, 10 1/4l behind The Knot Is Tied (11-1) at Newbury 2m 3f hcp (2) gs in Mar.
Playa Blanca (IRE) 33-1 (10-8) Held up, headway after 4 out, chased leaders 2 out, every chance after last, stayed on strongly to lead close home, won at Huntingdon 2m mdn (5) gs in Mar beating Lucky Lover Boy (10-8) by hd, 11 ran.
Teaser 8-1 (11-5) Led and disputed, led 3 out until headed between last 2, chased leader until last, 3rd and one pace run-in, 3rd of 7, 2l behind Marmont (11-8) at Taunton 2m hcp (4) sft in Mar.
Bold Reason (GER) 9-1 (11-0) Held up towards rear, headway after 3 out, chased winner before last, soon every chance, kept on and held towards finish, 2nd of 9, 1l behind Darlyn (11-3) at Southwell 2m hcp (4) sft in Mar.
Legal History (IRE) 8-1 (10-0) Held up mid-division, headway 3 out, challenged before last, ridden and every chance flat, kept on, no extra and held towards finish, 2nd of 14, 3/4l behind The Knot Is Tied (11-1) at Newbury 2m 3f hcp (2) gs in Mar.
Honorable (FR) 8-1 (10-12) Chased leaders on inside, mistake 2 out, outpaced soon after, kept on towards finish, 5th of 12, 19 1/2l behind Phoenician Star (10-12) at Stratford 2m 3f (3) gd in Mar.
Our Power (IRE) 25-1 (11-4) Held up towards rear, pushed along 3 out, headway approaching last, never involved, 9th of 21, 13l behind Band of Outlaws (11-8) at Cheltenham 2m hcp (1) sft in Mar.
