made most until headed 4 out, quickly weakened, tailed off
tracked leaders, not fluent 9th, chased leading pair after 4 out, outpaced approaching last
held up in touch, went 3rd from 6th, chased leader after 4 out, jumped boldly to lead last, kept on well
tracked leaders in 3rd on outer when fell 6th
tracked leader, led briefly 5th, remained close up, led 4 out, blundered when headed last, not recover
A tough novices' chase to call here despite the small field and we will take a chance on RIGUEZ DANCER to get the better of The Panama Kid and My Moment. The selection, a former Patrick Haslam inmate, has been learning fast under the guidance of Ferdy Murphy, putting a fall on his chase debut behind him to win at Sedgefield at the third time of asking. This trip appeared to suit him that day, he acts on any ground, and the runner he beat there was not a bad yardstick, so we will side with him to improve enough to win again. Fortysecond Street is also suited by this trip, over which he has raced twice in chases at Catterick so far. On both those occasions he has been emptying on the run-in, so this better ground may now help him see it right out to the line and if he does he is a threat. My Moment has shown decent form this season, with the useful Copper Bleu already one of his scalps, and this is more like his level than the Grade 2 he contested at Kempton last time. He is respected. Teddy's Reflection was somewhat flattered by the margin of defeat to The Polomoche at Fakenham in November but has to be taken seriously nonetheless, while The Panama Kid finished ahead of Fortysecond Street at Catterick and acts on good ground, so he could emerge as the leading danger to our pick Riguez Dancer.
My Moment (IRE) 8-1 (11-6) Wanted to go left, tracked leader, led before 4th, not fluent 5th, narrowly headed 6th, cheased leader, chased winner after 4 out, until ridden and weakened 3 out, beaten when blundered next, last of 5, 45l behind Riverside Theatre (11-8) at Kempton 2m nov chs Grade 2 4yo+ (1) gs in Dec.
Riguez Dancer 11-10fav (11-0) Held up, headway 11th, went 2nd before 2 out, driven to lead approaching last, stayed on under pressure flat, won at Sedgefield 2m 4f beg chase (4) hvy in Feb beating Middleton Dene (11-0) by 2 1/4l, 5 ran.
Fortysecond Street (IRE) 8-11fav (11-0) Held up in touch, headway to lead 5th, headed next, tracked leaders, blundered 4 out, led next, headed 2 out, rallied to lead again last, ridden and kept on until headed and no extra towards finish, 2nd of 5, 1 1/4l behind John Forbes (11-0) at Catterick 2m 3f beg chase (4) sft in Jan.
Teddy's Reflection (IRE) 4-1 (11-7) Tracked leaders, hit 2nd, outpaced 3 out, soon ridden and no impression, 3rd of 7, 16l behind Call Me A Legend (10-12) at Ascot 2m 1f nov hcp chs 0-130 (3) sft in Jan.
The Panama Kid (IRE) 20-1 (10-12) Held up in 5th, dropped to last before 11th, weakened 4 out, 6th of 7, 30l behind Tazbar (11-8) at Doncaster 2m 3f nov stks (3) gs in Feb.
