tracked leader, every chance 2 out, led before and left well clear last, ridden out
tracked leader, slow 9th, mistake 5 out, hampered next, son weakened, behind when pulled up after 2 out
held up, mistake 6th, struggling next, jumped right 4 out, soon beaten, left in remote 2nd at last, no chance with winner, tailed off
led, jumped right in places, mistake 3 out, soon hard pressed, headed after 2 out, rallying and every chance when fell last
chased clear leaders, mistake 4th, weakened after 6 out, left in remote 3rd at last, tailed off
Antartica De Thaix would almost certainly have won at Wincanton on Boxing Day had she not fallen three out and has been given plenty of time to recover. But SAINTE LADYLIME looks a worthy opponent on the strength of her second to the former’s stablemate Tagrita at Exeter and is also preferred to Beyond Measure, who failed to win over hurdles and doesn’t look a natural jumper. Irish raider Lochnell has won three times over timber but is a dour stayer who may find this too sharp.
Antartica De Thaix (FR) 5-4 (11-0) Tracked leader, left in lead 3rd, soon well clear, fell 3 out, at Wincanton 2m 4f (3) sft in Dec.
Beyond Measure (IRE) 11-4 (10-13) Raced keenly, led, dived at 3 out, soon headed, no extra last, last of 4, 7 1/4l behind Graceful Legend (11-12) at Doncaster 2m 3f hcp (4) gs in Jan.
Lochnell (IRE) 10-3 (10-8) Held up towards rear, headway before 3 out to chase leaders, kept on same in 3rd from last, 3rd of 8, 8l behind Bryden Boy (12-0) at Ayr 3m hcp (4) hvy in Jan.
Sainte Ladylime (FR) 5-4 (11-0) Took keen hold and never fluent, tracked leaders, went right 4th, jumped left next, outpaced when blundered 8th, soon recovered and pushed along in 3rd before 4 out, went 2nd 4 out, ridden before 2 out, looked held when mistake last, 2nd of 6, 1 3/4l behind Tagrita (11-6) at Exeter 2m 1f (3) sft in Dec.
Spring Pools (IRE) 100-1 (10-12) Mid-division on inside, weakened 7th, soon behind and pulled up, at Warwick 2m 5f (4) sft in Dec.
