chased leader until weakened after 9th, tailed off and pulled up before 2 out
chased leaders on inside, lost place and in mid-division before 9th, outpaced soon after, rallied before 2 out, plugged on
mid-division, reminder after 3rd, headway chasing leaders before 5th, 2nd and every chance bypassing omitted 3 out, weakened before next, blundered last
held up in last trio, steady headway tracking leaders after 9th, chased leaders before omitted 3 out, ridden to lead before last, stayed on well
mid-division, headway chasing leaders and every chance bypassing omitted 3 out, upsides when bumped next, went 2nd run-in, no chance with winner
led, pushed along after 9th, kept on well until ridden and headed 2 out, weakened between last 2
in mid-division when fell heavily 5th
towards rear, not much room on bend going out on last circuit, headway bypassing omitted 3 out, went modest 4th last
last trio, never a factor
last trio, never involved
always towards rear
raced wide chasing leaders, led and went left 2 out, ridden and headed before last, no extra in 3rd run-in
Lemon Shoulder’s third at Newton Abbot was a big step forward and Dan Skelton’s lightly-raced five-year-old will be a factor in this if staying the extra. Watching Brief reappeared with a third over 3m2f at Newton Abbot but is now 0-26 in career starts. Western Sunrise is thrown in on past form but isn’t getting any younger with ALANJOU more interesting. The 10-year-old can run well fresh, knows where the winning post is and is a proven stayer so doesn’t have too many negatives attached. Strictly Art should prove best of the rest.
Tis Fantastic (FR) 9-1 (11-6) Chased leaders, awkward 3rd, pushed along and lost place before 3 out, behind and pulled up before 2 out, at Huntingdon 2m 5f hcp (5) hvy in Feb.
General Picton (IRE) 4-1 (12-1) Prominent, led after 3rd, headed next, led again 7th, headed before 3 out, soon lost place behind when pulled up before 2 out, at Ffos Las 3m hcp (5) gs in Feb.
Connective (IRE) 7-1 (11-4) Raced wide in mid-division, weakened before 3 out, tailed off when mistake 2 out, pulled up before the last, at Doncaster 3m hcp (5) gs in Jan.
Strictly Art (IRE) 16-1 (11-7) Held up in last pair, hit 4th, plugged on in modest 4th before 2 out, weakened into 5th at the last, 5th of 8, 12 1/2l behind Etat Major Aulmes (11-9) at Newton Abbot 2m 6f hcp (5) gd in Jul.
Lemon Shoulder (IRE) 3-1fav (11-2) Held up in 5th on inside, closer after 6th, pushed along and one pace in 3rd from 3 out, 3rd of 8, 4 3/4l behind Etat Major Aulmes (11-9) at Newton Abbot 2m 6f hcp (5) gd in Jul.
Alanjou (FR) 11-2 (11-0) With leader and led at times, lost place 3 out, soon weakened, 8th of 9, dist behind North Star Oscar (11-11) at Huntingdon 3m 1f hcp (4) gs in Nov.
Western Sunrise (IRE) 4-1 (11-4) Held up in rear, headway 4 out, weakened after next, 6th of 7, 30l behind Jonjoela (10-0) at Plumpton 3m 1f hcp (5) sft in Oct.
Watching Brief (IRE) 11-2 (10-3) Bit keen tracking leaders, led before 2 out until 2 out, ridden and lost 2nd between last 2, plugged on in 3rd, 3rd of 8, 7l behind Sammylou (11-2) at Newton Abbot 3m 2f hcp (4) gd in Jul.
Snowbird (IRE) 9-1 (10-12) Soon mid-division, 15th from 5th, no impression from before 2 out, kept on without threatening run-in,, 6th of 27, 9l behind Pilgrim Way (11-3) at Navan 2m 6f hcp gd in Sep.
Wherewouldugetit (IRE) 25-1 (11-1) Tracked leaders on outside, ridden and lost place before 4 out, behind from next, soon pulled up, at Market Rasen 2m 7f hcp (5) sft in Dec.
The Lion Man (IRE) 250-1 (11-2) Held up, switched right over 12f out, struggling 7f out, well behind final 5f, tailed off, 7th of 8, dist behind Lantiern (11-2) at Wolverhampton 2m 1f (4) pol in Feb.
Franz Klammer 300-1 (10-12) Handy on outside, not fluent 6th or 8th, ridden when mistake 3 out, one pace in dispute of 3rd and no impression when bumped last, no extra flat, 4th of 6, 14 1/4l behind Famous Response (10-12) at Uttoxeter 2m 7f (4) gd in Jul.
