towards rear, brief effort after 13th, pulled up before 4 out
mid-division, ridden and outpaced from 13th, staying on and left poor 3rd when fading last
always in the rear
towards rear, ridden and weakened 8th, pulled up before 5 out
mid-division, mistakes 9th and 10th, ridden 13th, weakened 5 out
led, headed 5th, ridden and weakened 5 out, pulled up before 2 out
led, headed 2nd, ridden 4 out, upsides when bumped 2 out, every chance last, no extra
always in rear, blundered 9th
led from 5th, challenged from 5 out, kept on from last
always in the rear
held up, some progress approaching 5 out
in touch, staying on when blundering 2 out, rider became unbalanced and fell off approaching last
tracked leaders until lost place 7th, pulled up before 13th
tracked leaders, ridden approaching 14th, weakened next before 4 out
always in rear, reminders 3rd, lost touch when pulled up after 7th
towards rear, ridden from 8th, stayed on from 4 out, not reach leaders
With just the 18 runners to choose from here, this does not look to be the easiest of races to solve but Irish point-to-point winner TARSUS, who is now trained by Rebecca Curtis, has solid claims on recent form and he is taken to open his account under rules, getting the vote over Jacarado and Merry Storm. The last mentioned ran better here last month on his first start since September and would have every chance if able to build on that effort. Major Euro has shown gradual improvement in recent starts as he drops down in the weights and has to be considered along with Great Tsar who has dropped to a career low mark. Walton Way showed his best form for some time when a fair third at Towcester last month and he has to be considered, while Arceye showed some promise at the same venue last time but his overall form of late is poor. Robin Dickin's Jacarado has run better in his last two starts and has to be respected but Tarsus has solid claims and he is preferred.
Major Euro (IRE) 9-2 (11-6) Chased leaders, went 2nd 7th to 12th, ridden 4 out, stayed on to take 2nd flat, no chance with easy winner, 2nd of 5, 11l behind Nelson (11-5) at Warwick 2m 4f hcp chs 0-115 (4) gs in Mar.
Deep Pockets (IRE) 12-1 (11-3) Mid-division, under pressure 10th, soon no impression, 8th of 17, 31l behind Extra Bold (11-6) at Chepstow 3m hcp chs 0-100 (4) gd in Mar.
The Abbots Habit (IRE) 10-1 (10-11) Led and hit 1st, headed 7th, ridden and weakened approaching 3 out, 5th of 7, 24l behind Mortimers Cross (11-7) at Uttoxeter 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) sft in Nov.
Gallant Hero 28-1 (11-12) In touch, ridden and weakened 3 out, 8th of 12, well behind Prairie Spirit (11-1) at Hereford 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-100 (4) gf in Mar.
Great Tsar (IRE) 7-1 (11-2) Held up, last when mistake 13th, went moderate 3rd near finish, 3rd of 7, 15l behind Jackella (11-5) at Stratford 2m 7f nov hcp chs 0-115 (4) gf in Mar.
Talikos (FR) 16-1 (11-4) Prominent until blundered 10th, ridden after 4 out, weakened after next, 3rd of 9, 27l behind Sea Saffron (11-0) at Taunton 2m 3f hcp chs 0-100 (4) sft in Mar.
Chuquicamata 11-2 (10-13) Led to 1st, prominent, ridden and dropped rear 8th, weakened after next, 5th of 7, 31l behind Kikos (11-4) at Huntingdon 2m 4f 5yo nov hcp (4) gf in Mar.
Arceye 25-1 (11-9) Mid-division, in touch, pushed along before 8th, struggling 9th, 7th before 2 out, went moderate 3rd before last, 3rd of 11, 22l behind Lescer's Lad (11-4) at Towcester 2m 3f hcp chs 0-90 (5) gd in Mar.
Top Dawn (IRE) 33-1 (11-1) Mid-division, headway 10th, led 13th, headed 4 out, weakened approaching 2 out, 5th of 17, 12l behind Extra Bold (11-6) at Chepstow 3m hcp chs 0-100 (4) gd in Mar.
Tarsus 4-1fav (11-3) In touch, ridden 4 out, kept on to take 2nd flat, 2nd of 14, 14l behind Conny Nobel (10-5) at Chepstow 2m hcp chs 0-95 (5) sft in Feb.
Do The Locomotion (IRE) 25-1 (11-3) Held up, mistake 3rd, blundered next, soon lost touch, tailed off when pulled up before 5 out, in a race won by Conny Nobel (10-5) at Chepstow 2m hcp chs 0-95 (5) sft in Feb, 14 ran.
You Can of Course (IRE) 11-1 (11-1) Tracked leaders, ridden after 3 out, weakened 2 out, 5th of 14, 27l behind Spanish Cruise (11-0) at Wincanton 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-100 (4) gd in Mar.
High Ball (IRE) 18-1 (10-2) Slightly hampered 2nd, always behind, ridden 5th, not fluent next, struggling under pressure 9th, tailed off, 6th of 11, 29l behind Sula's Legend (11-9) at Plumpton 2m 4f nov hcp chs 0-100 (4) gd in Mar.
Mikado Melody (IRE) 22-1 (10-9) In touch, lost place before 4 out, 5th of 11, 46l behind Rash Moment (11-8) at Chepstow 2m 3f hcp chs 0-105 (4) gd in Mar.
Merry Storm (IRE) 4-1fav (10-5) Mid-division, headway 12th, chased leaders 14th, kept on under pressure from 2 out, 4th of 17, 6l behind Extra Bold (11-6) at Chepstow 3m hcp chs 0-100 (4) gd in Mar.
Jacarado (IRE) 7-1 (10-0) Tracked leader, reminders 6th, led approaching 10th, headed 4 out, ridden and close up 2 out, soon held, 2nd of 5, 8l behind Power King (11-7) at Kempton 3m hcp chs 0-105 (4) gd in Mar.
Walton Way 11-2fav (10-4) In rear, headway under pressure 13th, stayed on flat, 3rd of 16, 1/2l behind Gerrard (11-3) at Towcester 3m hcp chs 0-85 (5) gd in Mar.
Outside Investor (IRE) 13-2 (11-3) Prominent, ridden after 13th, soon weakened, 7th of 11, 50l behind Beauchamp Prince (11-6) at Newton Abbot 3m 2f hcp 0-100 (4) gd in Aug.
