tracked leader until 5th, not fluent and lost place 10th, behind when mistake 14th, pulled up before 2 out
chased leaders, not fluent 1st or 2nd, lost place next, closed 4th, led 7th, headed 9th, weakened before 4 out, pulled up before 2 out
held up, headway 11th, went 2nd 14th, led 2 out, clear last, easily
led, jumped right, headed 7th, led 9th, headed 10th, led after 11th, headed and pecked 2 out, no impression on winner last
held up in rear, mistake 6th, headway 12th, mistake 5 out, 3rd when not fluent 4 out, mistake and no extra 2 out
held up, closed 3rd, pushed along 13th, 4th 4 out, not fluent and weakened next
Plantagenet made a successful to return to chasing at Taunton 10 days ago but this looks tougher under a penalty. Fawsley Spirit unseated his rider at Ffos Las in November and was still a little ponderous next time at Wetherby but he has plenty of scope while Thomas Todd found only one too good at Fakenham after winning at Musselburgh. It was a surprise that FIFTY SHADES failed to handle Sandown’s stiff fences last time as he’d run well previously at Cheltenham. Softer going may have been to blame and the bottom weight gets another chance here ahead of chasing debutant Laugharne and Special Prep, who is flattered by form figures.
Laugharne 16-1 (11-4) Mid-division, headway after 8th, outpaced 2 out, rallied flat, went 3rd towards finish, 3rd of 14, 1l behind Django Django (11-8) at Chepstow 3m hcp (3) gs in Nov.
Fawsley Spirit (IRE) 12-1 (11-8) Held up, not fluent 2/3rd, soon in rear, headway approaching 7th, close up, went 2nd 10th, led on long run to 4 out, ridden and headed 3 out, left 3rd 2 out, kept on one pace, 3rd of 12, 13 3/4l behind Skipthescales (11-4) at Wetherby 3m hcp (4) sft in Dec.
Special Prep (IRE) 15-8 (11-0) Left 2nd at first, tracked winner, ridden 2 out, no threat to winner, 2nd of 3, 19l behind Wolfcatcher (11-4) at Musselburgh 2m 6f hcp (4) gd in Dec.
Plantagenet 5-1 (10-11) Made all, stayed on strongly from 3 out, unchallenged, won at Taunton 2m 7f hcp (4) gs in Dec beating Mahlermade (11-5) by 3 1/4l, 13 ran.
Thomas Todd 11-4 (12-1) Tracked leader, led 5th, not fluent 3 out, ridden next, not fluent and headed last, rallied to lead briefly flat, stayed on, 2nd of 5, 1 1/4l behind Chequered View (11-12) at Fakenham 2m 5f hcp (4) gs in Dec.
Fifty Shades (IRE) 9-2 (10-7) Held up in touch, not fluent 11th, pushed along after 3 out (usual 4 out), weakened bypassing omitted 3 out, tailed off, 5th of 8, 32 1/2l behind Mendip Express (11-12) at Sandown 3m hcp (3) sft in Dec.
