held up in last, mistake 5th, headway 3 out, no impression, went 4th 2 out, well held after
held up in mid-division, headway after 5th, went close up from 4 out, led flat, driven 2 lengths clear 100 yards out, headed close home
mid-division, ridden after 5th, well beaten from 4 out
always handy, challenged 3 out, driven and 2 lengths down flat, rallied to lead close home
with leader, led 1st, headed before 4 out, weakened 2 out
held up in rear, ridden after 5th, weakened before 4 out
led until 1st, prominent, ridden after 5th, weakened 3 out
mid-division, mistake and lost place 1st, not fluent and last next, well behind 4th, pulled up before next
tracked leaders, challenged after 5th, led before 4 out, ridden and headed flat, held after, stayed on same pace
Poole Master finally got his act together in no uncertain terms at Ffos Las and bids to defy an 11lb higher mark here. He could go well again with confidence restored while Grey Gold will be fancied to follow up his victory at Sandown three weeks ago off a 7lb higher mark. The handicapper may now have a grip on Get It On and Last Shot but Al Alfa scored in lesser company at Taunton last month, though has never won off a mark this high. Gus Macrae is potentially well treated but rarely runs two races alike and Fago makes more appeal eased in grade. SAVED BY JOHN is a tentative selection as he was only beaten a neck off today's mark at Ascot in November and would have found the ground too quick at Cheltenham subsequently.
Fago (FR) 14-1 (11-6) Tended to jump left, led and raced keenly, clear 2nd, headed 4 out, no impression when lost 2nd before 3 out, lost 3rd next, weakened and eased, tailed off, 5th of 6, 43l behind Sire De Grugy (11-10) at Kempton 2m Grade 2 chs (4yo+) (1) sft in Dec.
Grey Gold (IRE) 4-1fav (11-2) Chased leaders, went 2nd 8th, led before 3 out, driven flat, hung right towards finish, stayed on, won at Sandown 2m hcp chs 0-150 (2) hvy beating Desert Cry (11-11) by 3/4l, 8 ran.
Rody (FR) 16-1 (11-3) Led, mistake 8 out, mistake 5 out, headed before 4 out, soon weakened, pulled up before 2 out, in a race won by Simply Ned (10-11) at Doncaster 2m hcp chs (2) gs in Jan, 8 ran.
Poole Master 4-1 (11-12) Led to 5th, led again after 4 out, clear before 2 out, easily, won at Ffos Las 2m 3f hcp chs 0-130 (3) hvy beating Frontier Spirit (11-9) by 39l, 6 ran.
Saved By John (IRE) 10-1 (10-10) Held up towards rear, mistake 3rd, headway on outside 6th, every chance 3 out, one pace after next, 5th of 11, 13l behind Eastlake (11-0) at Cheltenham 2m hcp chs (2) gd in Dec.
Get It On (IRE) 7-2 (10-10) Tracked leaders, not fluent 6th, outpaced after 3 out, weakened 2 out, 5th of 6, 22l behind Helium (10-1) at Taunton 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-135 (3) hvy in Jan.
Last Shot (FR) 3-1 (11-12) Pressed leader, led after 2nd, jumped slowly 4th, headed 2 out, beaten last, weakened into 4th towards finish, 4th of 6, 11l behind Sew On Target (11-10) at Sandown 2m hcp chs 0-130 (3) hvy.
Gus Macrae (IRE) 17-2 (9-13) Tracked leaders until dropped to rear 11th, behind when blundered and weakened 13th, tailed off, last of 7, 48l behind Bury Parade (11-6) at Ascot 2m 5f hcp chs (2) hvy in Jan.
Al Alfa 5-4fav (11-12) Made all, mistakes 3 out and 2 out, driven out, won at Taunton 2m hcp chs 0-120 (4) hvy in Jan beating Lord Of The Dunes (10-13) by 3 1/2l, 7 ran.
