chased leaders on outer, ridden and weakened before 4 out, pulled up before 3 out
held up towards rear, headway approaching 7th, weakened before 4 out, pulled up before next
held up towards rear, reminders before 6th, tailed off when pulled up before 4 out
towards rear, pushed along 5th, hit 6th, headway next, with winner 4 out, every chance next, ridden and beaten 2 out
prominent, with leaders approaching 7th, in 3rd and ridden after 4 out, no impression when hit next
with leaders on inner, led 2nd, headed approaching 4 out, soon weakened
held up mid-division, headway 7th, led approaching 4 out, clear before 2 out, ran on strongly, pushed out
held up towards rear, headway approaching 7th on inner, ridden after 4 out, weakened from 2 out
held up towards rear, headway approaching 7th, ridden before 4 out, no impression
with leaders, weakened before 4 out, pulled up before next
led, not fluent 1st, headed 2nd, tracked leaders, pushed along and weakened from 7th, pulled up before 3 out
mid-division on inner, reminders approaching 4th, weakened before 4 out
chased leaders, blundered 6th, quickly lost place, soon weakened, pulled up before 3 out
Walls Way is only a pound higher than when winning this last year at a big price and it would be no surprise to see him run well. Taunton third The Composer has flattered to deceive in the past, however, while it's a long time since Killing Me Softly last visited the winners' enclosure though he should strip fitter for his fourth at Taunton last month. The hat-trick seeking Border Lad has only been put up 7lb for his C&D win last week and merits serious consideration but there was a lot to like about CHESTNUT BEN's second to Whitcombe Spirit at Folkestone in January and, likely to strip fitter here, he gets a tentative vote.
Bright Decision 10-1 (11-3) With leaders, led approaching 7th, narrowly headed after 3 out, lost 2nd before next, stayed in 3rd and rallied flat to 2nd final 100 yards, 2nd of 14, 3 1/2l behind Body Gold (10-10) at Taunton 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-95 (5) sft in Feb.
Walls Way 11-1 (11-7) Mid-division, headway 8th, ridden after next, weakened approaching 3 out, tailed off, 9th of 13, well behind Woodlands Gem (10-7) at Ludlow 3m cnd hcp hdl 0-95 (5) gs in Nov.
Castlemaine Vic (IRE) 5-1fav (11-7) Towards rear, ridden after 7th, well beaten before 9th, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out, in a race won by Ukrainian Star (11-3) at Hereford 3m 2f hcp hdl 0-90 (5) hvy in Jan, 17 ran.
Gleannacreim (IRE) 25-1 (11-4) Held up in rear, ridden approaching 7th, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out, in a race won by Ukrainian Star (11-3) at Hereford 3m 2f hcp hdl 0-90 (5) hvy in Jan, 17 ran.
Border Lad 11-8fav (10-4) Chased leader, led approaching 4 out, clear from next, hit 2 out, well in control when blundered last, eased flat, won at Ffos Las 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-90 (5) sft beating Zi Missile (9-11) by 6l, 4 ran.
Killing Me Softly 28-1 (10-13) In touch, ridden after 7th, driven in 6th after 3 out, stayed on to modest 4th flat, 4th of 13, 16l behind Acosta (10-5) at Taunton 3m hcp hdl 0-90 (5) sft in Feb.
The Composer 9-1 (10-3) Towards rear, headway from 3 out, stayed on under pressure flat, went 3rd last strides, 3rd of 14, 4 1/2l behind Body Gold (10-10) at Taunton 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-95 (5) sft in Feb.
Standing Order 12-1 (9-11) In touch, pushed along approaching 6th, weakened from 2 out, 6th of 10, 21l behind Nouailhas (10-11) at Bangor 2m 1f hcp hdl (4) gd in Dec.
Wham Bang 66-1 (11-5) Made most until 8th, weakened after next, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out, in a race won by Ukrainian Star (11-3) at Hereford 3m 2f hcp hdl 0-90 (5) hvy in Jan, 17 ran.
Tinalliat (FR) 16-1 (10-11) Raced in 5th and off the pace, blundered 2nd, never going after, lost place after 3rd tailed off and pulled up 8th, in a race won by Randjo (11-10) at Fontwell 2m 2f hcp chs 0-95 (5) gs in Jan, 10 ran.
Steely Bird 50-1 (10-7) Slow 1st, chased winner until 4th, disputing 3rd from 6th, pushed along and outpaced in 4th when hit 3 out, soon beaten, last of 4, 26l behind Abstract Art (11-3) at Ludlow 2m 5f sll hdl (4-8yo) (5) gs in Feb.
Kings Story (IRE) 3-1fav (10-7) Chased leaders, niggled along 6th, ridden 8th, weakened next, tailed off, last of 7, well behind Elegant Olive (11-7) at Huntingdon 3m 2f hcp hdl 0-90 (5) gs in Jan.
Zi Missile (IRE) 8-1 (9-11) Went right 1st, chased leading duo, went 2nd and hit 4 out, no chance with winner from 3 out, 2nd of 4, 6l behind Border Lad (10-4) at Ffos Las 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-90 (5) sft.
Chestnut Ben (IRE) 7-1 (10-11) In touch, headway to chase leading pair 2 out, went 2nd before last, kept on under pressure flat, 2nd of 14, 1 1/4l behind Whitcombe Spirit (11-2) at Folkestone 2m 1f cnd hcp hdl 0-85 (5) hvy in Jan.
