tracked leader, led 5th, ridden last, held on under pressure flat
held up in rear, headway to chase winner after 4 out, switched inside and effort after next, hit 2 out, soon ridden, beaten and eased flat
tracked leaders, headway 3 out, ridden next, went 2nd approaching last, kept on, just held
led to 5th, outpaced next, soon weakened
chased leaders, ridden and outpaced after 4 out, soon behind
Degas Art, a Listed race winner on the level, created a favourable impression when making a winning hurdling debut at Wetherby last month and Howard Johnson's gelding is taken to follow up at the main expense of Faucon Bleu and Tora Petcha. The last mentioned lost his way on the flat but has shown a consistent level of form, without winning, since being switched to the winter game. Reg Hollinshead's gelding can again expected to be thereabouts but may have to settle for a minor role. Alan King's French import Pouvoir looked held when falling three out at Aintree and it remains to be seen how that tumble will have effected him, while Noel Chance's First Feerie, another French import, showed promise on his British debut at Huntingdon but may need more time. Henrietta Knight's Faucon Bleu has more to do under a penalty for his Uttoxeter success and, while the same can be said of Degas Art, the selection looked one to keep on the right side of when scoring at Wetherby and he gets the vote to follow up.
Degas Art (IRE) 5-4fav (10-12) Tracked leaders, not fluent 3rd, led 4 out, not fluent next, driven out, won at Wetherby 2m 3yo nov hdl (1) sft in Oct beating Katchit (11-6) by 1 1/2l, 6 ran.
Faucon Bleu (FR) 7-4fav (10-12) Mid-division, headway 5th, led on bit 3 out, drew clear, won at Uttoxeter 2m 3yo nov hdl (4) sft in Oct beating Risk Runner (10-12) by 8l, 11 ran.
Pouvoir (FR) 7-4jt-fav (11-0) Tracked leader, disputing 2nd when fell 3 out in race won by Total Victory (11-0) at Aintree 2m 3yo nov hdl (2) gd in Oct, 8 ran.
Tora Petcha (IRE) 2-1 (10-12) Led to after 6th, soon ridden, outpaced when mistake 3 out, rallied approaching last, kept on flat, not trouble winner, 2nd of 12, 2 1/2l behind Cheveley Flyer (10-6) at Ludlow 2m 3yo mdn hdl (4) gf in Oct.
First Feerie (FR) 8-1 (10-7) Chased winner, blundered 4th, kept on, no chance with winner, 2nd of 15, 4l behind My Petra (11-2) at Huntingdon 2m 3yo nov hdl (4) gf.
