raced wide chasing leaders, went 2nd before 8th, not fluent next, lost 2nd 4 out, went 2nd again before 2 out until 2 out, weakened between last two
towards rear, bad mistake 4 out, soon pulled up
chased leaders, weakened after 4 out
held up off the pace in last pair, headway chasing leaders 4 out, went 2nd 2 out, led before the last until the last, stayed on same pace run-in, no chance with winner, held on for 2nd
patiently ridden in rear, headway between horses travelling well before 2 out, went 2nd before the last, led last, stayed on strongly to go clear run-in
led, hit 9th and pushed along, headed after 3 out, chased leader until pushed along turning in, weakened quickly, tailed off and pulled up before the last
held up off the pace towards rear, hit 6th, closer in mid-division after 7th, headway out wide before 2 out, went 3rd at the last, stayed on run-in pressing for 2nd, no chance with winner
chased leader until before 8th, chased leaders, weakened turning in
raced keenly in mid-division out wide, headway chasing leaders before 8th, went 2nd 4 out, led after next, headed before the last, ridden and weakened run-in
Fast Buck is running well but has looked in the handicapper’s grip the last twice. Corrigeen Rock is the likely pace angle but he’ll need to reverse Sandown running in January with Xcitations, who was subsequently beaten by Prince Escalus at Wetherby though the weights favour Pam Sly’s runner today. FRERE D’ARMES’ two victories in November couldn’t have worked out much better. He’s 8lb higher on his return to action but could be a very smart chaser in the making.
Dolos (FR) 7-2jfav (12-0) Chased leaders on inside, outpaced and lost place 4 out, well beaten 3 out, pulled up after, at Sandown 1m 7f hcp (2) gs in Feb.
Xcitations 10-3 (11-12) Prominent, led narrowly after 4 out, headed 3 out, ridden before 2 out and gradually faded, last of 5, 8 1/2l behind Calico (11-9) at Doncaster 2m hcp (2) gd in Mar.
Prince Escalus (IRE) 4-1 (11-8) Mostly jumped well, tracked leader, led after 4th until next, chased leader, led again 6th, made rest, clear 2 out, reached for the last, stayed on strongly, won at Wetherby 1m 7f hcp (3) gd in Feb beating Xcitations (12-0) by 3 3/4l, 6 ran.
Frere d'Armes (FR) 4-1 (10-5) Tracked leader 2nd, hit 4th, challenged out wide led and hit the last, ridden and hung left run-in, stayed on well, won at Newbury 2m hcp (3) gd in Nov beating Aucunrisque (11-1) by 2 1/4l, 6 ran.
Black Gerry (IRE) 22-1 (10-2) Off the pace and always towards rear, never involved, tailed off and pulled up before 3 out, at Kempton 3m hcp (1) gd in Feb.
Fast Buck (FR) 6-5 (11-8) Led 1st until after 3rd, led again 5th, joined 5 out, narrowly headed next, held when ridden between last two, no extra from the elbow, 2nd of 3, 4 3/4l behind Mortlach (11-9) at Newbury 2m hcp (2) gf in Feb.
Hatcher (IRE) 28-1 (11-10) Held up on outside, hit 1st, closed 5th, led 6th, headed next, lost place 9th, soon weakened, fell 3 out, at Ludlow 2m hcp (2) gs in Dec.
Corrigeen Rock (IRE) 11-8fav (11-6) Led, joined when went left 3 out, ridden and headed run-in, stayed on same pace, 2nd of 4, 1 1/4l behind Bun Doran (11-7) at Sandown 1m 7f hcp (3) gd in Feb.
Royale Margaux (FR) 80-1 (11-3) Chased leaders out wide, went 2nd turning in until pushed along before 2 out, weakened quickly and pulled up before the last, at Sandown 2m hcp (1) hvy in Mar.
