raced wide and keen, tracked leader until 4th, chased leaders, lost place and struggling 6th, weakened quickly before 4 out, tailed off and pulled up before 2 out
tracked leaders, went 2nd and hit 6th, led before 3 out, narrowly headed next, chased winner until ridden and weakened into 3rd before last
raced keenly tracking leaders on inside, went 2nd 4th until 6th, chased leaders, ridden and weakened before 2 out, tailed off
waited with in last pair, steady headway 4 out, chased leaders before next, 2nd going well before last, found nil run-in
led, pushed along and headed before 3 out, soon weakened, tailed off
raced wide, held up in touch, outpaced 4 out, rallied on outside approaching next, ridden and weakened between last 2
waited with in rear, headway tracking leaders approaching 4 out, led on bit 2 out, good jump last, soon clear
Mercian Knight won a small race here in December and runs in his first handicap, though he looks a chaser in the making and may find a few too quick on the better ground. Teescomponentstrig hasn’t been unduly punished for winning at Newcastle raised only 4lb. Irish import Premier D'troice made a winning start for Archie Watson at Fakenham and may be capable of further improvement while I'd Better Go Now won on good going at Wincanton in the autumn. Ship Of The Fen and Champagne Noir are unexposed but TANGO BOY could be the value in a tricky contest as he’s had just the two starts so far over timber and was heavily punted at Catterick in January when let down by his jumping.
Premier D'troice (FR) 9-1 (11-8) Chased leaders, outpaced 6th, led before 10th, strongly challenged last, kept on under pressure, won at Fakenham 2m 7f hcp (4) sft in Feb beating Dundrum Wood (11-12) by 2 3/4l, 5 ran.
Mercian Knight (IRE) 8-1 (11-5) Held up in touch, hit 4th, stumbled slightly 6th, hit 7th, weakened 3 out, hit 2 out, 5th of 7, 24 1/4l behind Blackjack Kentucky (10-12) at Chepstow 3m (4) hvy in Jan.
Ship Of The Fen 33-1 (9-3) Chased leaders, effort over 2f out, weakened over 1f out, 6th of 7, 12l behind Smart Champion (9-1) at Newcastle 2m hcp (2) pol in Feb.
Tango Boy (IRE) 5-6fav (11-2) Tracked clear leader, close up 4th, mistake 3 out, soon challenged, left in lead turning into straight, ridden between last 2, headed when not fluent last, no impression flat, 2nd of 6, 6l behind Presence Of Mind (11-2) at Catterick 2m 3f (4) gs in Jan.
Champagne Noir (IRE) 6-1 (10-12) Led, not fluent 2nd, not fluent and headed 3 out, weakening when hampered last, 4th of 14, 24 1/4l behind Decor Irlandais (11-10) at Catterick 2m 3f (4) gs in Dec.
Teescomponentstrig 3-1fav (11-1) Prominent, not fluent 3rd, challenged 3 out, led after 2 out, mistake last, clear inside final 100 yards, won at Newcastle 3m hcp (4) sft in Jan beating Jessiemac (10-9) by 4 1/4l, 13 ran.
I'd Better Go Now (IRE) 11-4fav (11-1) Held up towards rear, headway chasing leaders 8th, weakened on long run before 2 out, 6th of 14, 23 1/4l behind Fontley House (11-7) at Kempton 3m hcp (4) gs in Nov.
