tracked leader, led 7th, headed 7 out, outpaced from 5 out, plugged on to take 2nd close home, no chance with winner
in touch, weakened before 5 out
held up in touch, went 2nd before 4 out, led 4 out, clear before 2 out, readily
always behind, soon struggling and tailed off, pulled up before 13th
led to 7th, led again 7 out, headed 4 out, beaten before 2 out, lost 2nd place close home
WONDERFUL CHARM won on his reappearance last season and is being aimed again at the Foxhunter at Cheltenham. That level looks beyond him nowadays but it will be a surprise if he’s beaten in this. Upswing was a fair fourth on his first start for new connections at Warwick but was then pulled up at Ludlow. Boa Island has been running in point-to-points recently but will need to take a big step forward to get competitive while the lack of a recent outing is a worry for Forgotten Gold, though he is suited by conditions if fully wound-up.
Boa Island (IRE) 5-1 (12-5) A.p; led 8 til hdd 2 out; one pce, 3rd of 13, 1 1/2l behind Purcell's Bridge (12-5) at Friars Haugh 3m in Jan.
Upswing (IRE) 7-1 (12-6) Chased leaders, slow 3rd, ridden after 15th, soon weakened, pulled up before 4 out, at Ludlow 3m (5) gs in Feb.
Wonderful Charm (FR) 5-2 (12-0) Held up in rear, mistake 5th (water), not fluent 11th, remote 6th 3 out, stayed on after 2 out, went 3rd flat, never on terms, 3rd of 11, 9l behind Chosen Dream (12-0) at Stratford 3m 4f (2) gd in Jun.
Flugzeug 33-1 (11-2) Led to 2; drpd rr 13; t.o, last of 4, dist behind Broken Eagle (11-7) at Ampton 3m gf in Jan.
Forgotten Gold (IRE) 14-1 (11-13) Chased leaders, ridden to challenge after 4 out, led next, headed after lasr, kept on same pace, 2nd of 10, 2 1/4l behind Mr Mix (11-12) at Wincanton 3m 3f hcp (3) gd in Oct.