mid-division, headway before 5 out, soon chasing winner, jumped left 4 out, no impression on winner from 3 out, well held flat
disputed lead until 1st, chased winner, led 2nd, headed next, not fluent 7th, mistake 5 out, weakened next
held up in rear, headway when not fluent 6th, mistake 5 out, no impression from next, weakened before last
led 1st until 2nd, led next, clear 3 out, drew further clear flat, stayed on strongly
held up in mid-division, headway 5th, no impression from 3 out, went 3rd last, kept on
held up in rear, not fluent 3rd, mistake 5th, well beaten 5 out, pulled up after
disputed lead until 1st, chased leaders, mistake 2nd, held in 3rd from 4 out, well held and lost 3rd last
rear of mid-division, mistake 3rd, not fluent 5th, well beaten 5 out, pulled up after
SARASOTA STAR gets the nod here. A winner of one of his two chases when a convincing Worcester scorer, he reverted to hurdles when running a good fourth to Samba Dancer at the opening Cheltenham meeting of the season and is clearly in good heart. He looks fairly treated off a mark of 117. Millbank Flyer has his attentions turned to chasing after just a bumper run and three hurdling efforts. He shaped well after a lengthy break when a respectable Stratford third last time and is a potentially useful recruit to fences. Fabrique En France needs considering on fencing debut for an in-form team and Finistere is being brought along very quietly and will improve.
Fabrique En France (FR) 9-2 (11-4) Led, hung left on stable bend after 3rd, jumped left 4th, pushed along after 3 out, ridden approaching last and wandered left, headed last, kept on flat, 3rd of 7, 1 3/4l behind Coolkill (10-12) at Perth 2m (4) gd in Apr.
Powerstown Park (IRE) 12-1 (10-5) Raced keenly tracking leaders, unseated rider 3rd, at Chepstow 2m hcp (3) gs in Nov.
Finistere (FR) 13-2 (11-6) In rear, not fluent 4 out, asked for effort before 3 out, no extra from 2 out, 7th of 9, 25l behind Numitor (11-12) at Wetherby 1m 7f hcp (3) gs in Oct.
Sarasota Star (IRE) 17-2 (10-11) Chased leaders, led after 2 out, headed just before last, not much room flat, soon switched right, held and lost 3rd towards finish, 4th of 12, 2 1/2l behind Samba Dancer (10-8) at Cheltenham 2m hcp (3) gd in Oct.
Bannister (FR) 7-1 (10-13) Raced keenly, held up towards, well beaten 8th, 6th of 10, 24 1/2l behind Magic Dancer (11-4) at Worcester 2m hcp (3) sft in Oct.
Millbank Flyer (IRE) 6-1 (10-12) Tracked leaders, not fluent 2 out, ridden home turn, outpaced by front pair before last, kept on, 3rd of 13, 12 1/2l behind Onemorefortheroad (11-8) at Stratford 2m (3) gd in Oct.
Morgenstern (FR) (10-10) Led halfway, lost ground from 2 out, 5th of 9, 7l behind Batman Royal (10-1) at Niort 2m 3f gs in Oct.
Richie Valentine 15-2 (10-9) Led, headed 3 out, ridden and soon weakened, 5th of 6, dist behind Ten Past Midnight (10-5) at Newton Abbot 2m 1f hcp (5) hvy in Oct.
