made all and jumped well, fiddled 11th, pushed along and quickened readily clear before the last, kept on strongly, unchallenged
never fluent, tracked leading pair until slow jump and dropped to last 2nd,mistake 7th, outpaced 12th, struggling when mistake 15th, went badly left last, tailed off
took keen hold, held up 4th, tracked leading pair 2nd, jumped slowly 3 out, ridden and unable to quicken between last 2, hit last
tracked winner, ridden and readily outpaced before hit last, no chance with winner
Black Corton has been pretty much on the go since April of last year but he’s won seven of his 10 chase starts and helped put Bryony Frost on the map. The partnership landed the Grade 1 Kauto Star at Kempton on Boxing Day and is entered in the RSA next month but this is no straightforward task, though the well-regarded Mount Mews didn’t appear to stay 3m when beaten at Doncaster last month. MS PARFOIS has gone from strength-to-strength since making her chase debut in November. She’s won a couple of Listed races recently in impressive fashion and deserves a crack at this nice prize with her mares’ allowance. Crystal Lad has been placed in a couple of handicaps but has little chance on these terms, barring accidents.
Black Corton (FR) 4-1 (11-7) Led to 4th, led 10th to 13th, left in lead 4 out, ridden 2 out, stayed on strongly, won at Kempton 3m (1) sft in Dec beating Elegant Escape (11-7) by 1 1/2l, 7 ran.
Crystal Lad (FR) 11-4fav (11-10) Tracked leaders in 4th place, went 3rd from 4 out, ridden before last, kept on same pace, 3rd of 6, 3 3/4l behind Red Infantry (11-1) at Doncaster 3m hcp (4) sft in Jan.
Mount Mews (IRE) 5-4fav (11-6) In rear and in touch, went 3rd before 10th, challenged 2 out, with winner when not fluent last, kept on and held towards finish, 2nd of 4, 1/2l behind Wotzizname (11-6) at Doncaster 3m (4) sft in Jan.
Ms Parfois (IRE) 9-4 (10-12) Led until after 1st, tracked leader until 9th, went 2nd again 4 out, led 2 out, clear flat, stayed on well, comfortably, won at Warwick 3m lst (1) sft in Jan beating Duel At Dawn (11-0) by 5l, 5 ran.