keen, tracked leading pair, smooth headway on outside into 2nd 2f out, led going well over 1f out, briefly pressed just inside final furlong, soon shaken up to assert and drew clear
tracked leader until ridden 2f out, chased leaders, weakened over 1f out
held up last, good headway on outside 2f out, went 2nd and pressed winner briefly entering final furlong, soon held, one pace
led, ridden and headed over 1f out, lost 2nd just inside final furlong, kept on same pace in 3rd
tracked leading trio, outpaced 2f out, plugged on in 4th
William Of Orange was not at his best last time at Doncaster but won a decent handicap hurdle at Wetherby in November and should give a good account here as he won twice on the Flat for Sir Mark Prescott as a three-year-old. FOREST BIHAN has entries in the Champion Chase and Grand Annual at Cheltenham in a couple of weeks’ time. A 156-rated chaser, he beat a subsequent Grade 1 winner at Kelso in the autumn and has faced some stiff tasks since. Though connections won’t want to give him a hard race, he should have too much class for these. Morning With Ivan won over hurdles here in December and has been placed in both starts since at Musselburgh. She has won on the Flat and been placed on the all-weather so looks the pick of the remainder.
Forest Bihan (FR) 14-1 (11-12) Held up in rear, headway from 5 out, went 3rd and ridden before last, kept on same pace, 4th of 8, 9 1/4l behind Duke Of Navan (10-10) at Doncaster 2m hcp (2) sft in Jan.
Lough Salt (IRE) 7-1 (11-9) Held up towards rear, headway from 3 out, one pace and no impression after, 6th of 11, 35 1/4l behind Buckle Street (11-12) at Catterick 3m 1f hcp (4) gs in Dec.
The Resdev Way 12-1 (8-11) Took keen hold, tracked leaders on outside, ridden over 2f out, weakened 2f out, last of 7, 21 1/4l behind Lexington Law (9-9) at Newcastle 1m 4f hcp (4) pol in Feb.
William Of Orange 8-1 (10-6) Led to 4 out, weakened before 2 out, 5th of 9, 29l behind Irish Roe (11-0) at Doncaster 2m 1f hcp (2) gd in Dec.
Pantomime (IRE) 11-1 (8-12) Tracked leaders, lost place 6f out, soon towards rear, hung left and rallied into modest 4th inside final furlong, 4th of 14, 5 3/4l behind Archibelle (8-11) at Newcastle 2m hcp (6) pol in Feb.
Morning With Ivan (IRE) 5-1jfav (10-11) Held up in rear, took keen hold, headway when not fluent 2 out, stayed on flat, went 3rd towards finish, unable to trouble front pair, 3rd of 13, 4 1/2l behind Kelpies Myth (11-3) at Musselburgh 2m hcp (4) sft in Feb.
