tracked winner until weakened approaching 3 out, fell next
held up in mid-division, pushed along and hit 4th, soon lost place, weakened from 4 out, tailed off
held up in touch, ridden after 4 out, weakened 2 out
held up towards rear, headway 3 out, kept on to take 3rd after last, no impression
held up towards rear, headway on outer 4th, ridden approaching 2 out, weakened after last
held up towards rear, headway to chase leaders 5th, ridden approaching 2 out, no impression
chased leaders early, dropped into mid-division, ridden and weakened approaching 2 out
held up in touch, hit 5th, soon weakened, tailed off after 4 out
tracked leaders, pushed along approaching 4 out, soon weakened
made all, hit 2nd, hit 5th, clear approaching 3 out, ridden approaching next, kept on well
held up towards rear, headway approaching 3 out, soon chasing winner, kept on, no impression
held up in rear, ridden after 4 out, weakened approaching 3 out
ERADICATE is fancied to win this year's renewal, primarily at the main expense of Frontier Dancer and Arcalis. Nicky Henderson's gelding didn't seem to enjoy Cheltenham last month but looks more likely to be at home on this more conventional track. His previous beating of Palomar at Musselburgh reads well and with more improvement to come off this mark of 135 he should run a big race. The aforementioned Palomar represents last-year's winning connections and is blinkered for the first time, Lady Hillingdon is an interesting Irish contender but needs to improve, whilst Arcalis bounced back to form at Cheltenham last month and is a well-handicapped horse if in the same mood. Tito Bustillo has his sights lowered after flopping in the County Hurdle, First Point is fairly-treated now returning to hurdling and his jockey is good value for his claim, whilst Micheal Flips ran a blinder at Cheltenham last month and is not to be ignored here despite a rising handicap mark. Nigel Twiston-Davies has a great record at this meeting so Frontier Dancer commands respect, especially as he beat Eradicate at Perth a year ago, whilst William Hogarth and Border Castle have been in good nick at a lower level. The strong-traveller Gloucester cannot be ruled out for a place, however the win nomination goes to Eradicate.
Micheal Flips (IRE) 33-1 (11-7) With leader, led after 2nd, hard pressed 2out, ridden and headed before last, soon no extra, 4th of 28, 8l behind Spirit River (11-2) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp hdl Grade 3 (1) gd in Mar.
First Point (GER) 5-6fav (11-5) Held up in 3rd, improved to challenge 8th, every chance when hit 4 out, beaten last, one pace, 2nd of 4, 4 1/2l behind King Edmund (11-5) at Ludlow 2m nov chs (4) gd in Mar.
Tito Bustillo (FR) 7-1fav (10-10) Mid-division, still there and going well enough when hampered badly 2 out, not recover, soon eased, 23rd of 28, 39l behind Thousand Stars (10-5) at Cheltenham 2m 1f hcp hdl G3 (1) gd in Mar.
Arcalis 33-1 (10-4) Mid-division, driven 2 out, switched inside and headway between last 2, ridden and stayed on well flat to go 2nd towards finish, not reached winner, 2nd of 28, 3l behind Thousand Stars (10-5) at Cheltenham 2m 1f hcp hdl G3 (1) gd in Mar.
Lady Hillingdon 12-1 (11-7) Ran without tongue-strap, chased leaders, 6th before straight, soon no extra under pressure, 7th of 8, 45l behind Morning Supreme (11-4) at Limerick 2m Mares Listed Novice Hurdle (4yo+) in Mar.
Eradicate (IRE) 16-1 (10-11) Mid-division, weakened from 3 out, 22nd of 28, 38l behind Thousand Stars (10-5) at Cheltenham 2m 1f hcp hdl G3 (1) gd in Mar.
Frontier Dancer (IRE) 20-1 (10-7) Chased leaders, weakening when fell 2 out, in a race won by Get Me Out Of Here (10-6) at Newbury 2m hcp hdl Grade 3 (1) gs in Feb, 23 ran.
Border Castle 7-2 (11-12) Tracked leaders, went 2nd after 3 out, effort between last 2, kept on flat, 2nd of 3, 1l behind Bella Haze (11-3) at Chepstow 2m hcp hdl 0-135 (3) hvy.
William Hogarth 11-8 (11-6) Led, ridden after 3 out, headed after next, kept on well under pressure flat, 2nd of 4, hd behind Hoback Junction (11-6) at Towcester 2m nh nov hdl (4) hvy.
Overturn (IRE) 4-9fav (11-6) Made all, not jumped well early, ridden clear 2 out, unchallenged, won at Ayr 2m nh nov hdl (4) gs in Mar beating Si Bien (10-11) by 10l, 10 ran.
Gloucester 50-1 (10-3) Mid-division, headway to chase leaders after 2 out, soon ridden, kept on under pressure flat, 6th of 28, 8l behind Thousand Stars (10-5) at Cheltenham 2m 1f hcp hdl G3 (1) gd in Mar.
Palomar (USA) 20-1 (10-12) Held up towards, ridden after 4 out, soon weakened, 17th of 21, well behind Dee Ee Williams (11-12) at Aintree 2m cond hcp hdl (2) gd.
