made all, in command when mistake last, pushed out
chased leaders, ridden after 3 out, mistake 2 out, soon weakened
slowly away, raced keenly in rear, headway after 5th, chased winner 2 out, held when not fluent last, kept on
chased winner, not fluent 3rd, outpaced after 3 out, weakening when not fluent 2 out
took keen hold, chased leaders, mistake 4th, slow next, lost place before 3 out, well beaten after, went 3rd latter stages
SABBATHICAL clearly failed to stay when upped in trip last time at Ffos Las. He handles heavy ground and still doesn’t look badly treated compared to today’s rivals. Jaunty Viking has only won once so far over hurdles and remains 13lb higher while a first victory continues to elude Port Or Starboard. Ballybreeze is also a maiden but less exposed and Hacker Des Places is conceding lumps of weight, though his latest fourth came in a better race at Lingfield and he will cope with conditions.
Hacker Des Places (FR) 20-1 (11-3) Mid-division on inside, headway chasing leaders before 2 out, plugged on in modest 4th, 4th of 12, 10l behind Metier (11-10) at Lingfield 2m hcp (2) hvy in Jan.
Port Or Starboard (IRE) 2-1fav (11-6) Chased leaders, led 2 out, headed before last, slight bump just after last, lost 2nd close home, 3rd of 11, 1 1/4l behind Royle Steel (10-8) at Sedgefield 2m 1f mdn (4) gd in Feb.
Ballybreeze 5-6fav (11-9) Pulled hard in rear, headway into midfield 5th, chased leaders 3 out, faded from 2 out, 3rd of 10, 5 1/2l behind Demi Sang (11-2) at Wetherby 2m hcp (4) sft in Dec.
Jaunty Viking 6-1 (11-1) Chased leaders, went 2nd from 4th, led before 3 out, 3 lengths clear flat, headed towards finish, 2nd of 9, 1l behind Fontana Ellissi (11-6) at Ffos Las 2m hcp (4) gs in Feb.
Sabbathical (FR) 8-1 (11-5) Ran in snatches and held various positions, struggling in rear after 4 out, tailed off, 5th of 10, dist behind Crossing The Bar (11-7) at Ffos Las 2m 4f hcp (4) sft in Feb.
