held up, headway from 11th, mistake 13th, 2nd next, led when mistake 3 out, headed 2 out, held flat
tracked leaders, 2nd 10th, mistake next, 3rd when fell 12th
held up, headway 8th, struggling after 11th, hampered next, well beaten before 4 out, pulled up before 3 out
prominent, led 2nd, not fluent 3rd, reminder 10th, baulked 12th, weakened from approaching 4 out, poor 3rd when refused 2 out
prominent on outside, led 4th, headed next, lost place 6th, behind when pulled up before 8th
led, not fluent 1st, headed next, led 3rd until 4th, led 5th, headed 3 out, led next, in command flat
not travel well in rear, behind 11th, pulled up before next
Royal Salute and Amberjam both let supporters down last time when in pursuit of a hat-trick and may have been reeled in by the handicapper. A Tail Of Intrigue will need to jump a lot better than he did at Sandown but Muckle Roe is usually on the premises in this grade and a case can also be made for Optimistic Bias, who stays well. NOT A BOTHER BOY had his problems in the autumn but a clear round at Bangor in November will have done wonders for his confidence and it may be worth taking a chance on his fitness after a break.
Muckle Roe (IRE) 15-2 (11-2) Held up in rear, hampered 9th, headway 13th, 3rd and beaten before 2 out, no extra from last, 3rd of 9, 17 1/2l behind Shanroe Santos (11-5) at Warwick 3m hcp (3) sft in Feb.
Royal Salute 5-4fav (11-1) Tracked leader, not fluent 2nd, went left next, chased winner from after 4th, not fluent 12th, no chance with winner when mistake 14th, lost poor 2nd last, 3rd of 5, dist behind Minella On Line (11-8) at Plumpton 3m 2f hcp (3) sft in Feb.
A Tail Of Intrigue (IRE) 11-1 (12-0) Behind, mistake 6th, headway before 14th, blundered 4 out, soon outpaced, kept on from last, went 3rd place close home, 3rd of 10, 14 1/4l behind Rathlin Rose (12-5) at Sandown 3m (3) gs in Mar.
Not A Bother Boy (IRE) 14-1 (11-2) In touch, close up 4 out, ridden when left 3rd 2 out, kept on one pace, 3rd of 8, 9l behind I Am Colin (11-5) at Bangor 3m hcp (3) sft in Nov.
Farbreaga (IRE) 20-1 (11-11) Always towards rear, 13th of 17, dist behind Achimota (11-10) at Chepstow 3m hcp (4) gs in Nov.
Optimistic Bias (IRE) 10-1 (10-6) Held up in rear, chased leaders 3 out, ridden and one pace when left narrow 2nd at last, no chance with winner, no extra in 3rd flat, 3rd of 5, 21 1/4l behind Court Frontier (11-1) at Huntingdon 3m 7f hcp (3) sft in Mar.
Amberjam (IRE) 7-1 (10-9) Always behind, pulled up 14th, at Lingfield 3m 4f hcp (3) hvy in Feb.
