held up, steady headway from after 8th, chased leading pair before 3 out, one pace from next
behind, driven along 6th, struggling 9th, tailed off
close up, pushed along 6th, went lame and pulled up after 9th
chased leaders, pushed along before 3 out, went 2nd after next, no chance with winner
pressed leader, challenged 7th, until weakened soon after 3 out, tailed off
not fluent, held up, driven and struggling 9th, tailed off
held up, weakened before 3 out, tailed off
made most, joined 7th, headed 2 out, soon no extra
chased leaders, led going well 2 out, in command before last, easily
An interesting novices' contest where staying will very much be the name of the game and BESCOT SPRINGS is the suggestion, while The Ferbane Man and Kiribati King are others with claims. Philip Hobbs has his string in very good form, fuelling confidence in the selection. This lightly-raced five-year-old is open to a fair bit of improvement now tried over this far, and his pedigree suggests that trip and ground should be ideal, so we will give him the nod. The Ferbane Man looks the pick of the Tim Vaughan-trained pair. He won an Irish point this time last year and acts with cut in the ground. He has already shown some ability in two starts for his trainer, and now returned to three miles for the first time since those point-to-points, he should go very well. Charlie Mann's Kiribati King is rated in the 70s on the Flat, where he stays two miles. His introduction to hurdles at Kempton looked to be nothing more than a pipe-opener and now stepped up to this trip and with the cobwebs blown off after a break, he can go very well. King Billy is respected given the record of his trainer here, and it will be interesting to see how he goes on over this trip, while Little Al has the ability to make them all go but has a bit to prove after two poor runs. Bescot Springs is the one for us.
Bescot Springs (IRE) 15-2 (11-1) Mid-division, headway after 7th, weakened approaching 2 out, 5th of 17, 36l behind Peveril (11-11) at Warwick 2m 5f nh nov hdl (4) gs in Feb.
Dunraven Star (IRE) 25-1 (11-5) In touch in 4th, reminders and pushed along from 2nd, weakened from 7th, tailed off from next, last of 5, well behind Glenwood Knight (11-5) at Exeter 2m 7f nov hdl (4) gs in Feb.
King Billy 9-1 (11-4) Chased leaders, pushed along before 3 out, no impression next, left modest 3rd after last, 3rd of 13, 21l behind Diamond Brook (11-4) at Exeter 2m 3f nh nov hdl (4) sft in Feb.
Kiribati King (IRE) 16-1 (11-2) Held up in rear, not fluent 5th, tailed off 3 out, 10th of 12, well behind The Minack (11-8) at Kempton 2m 5f nh nov hdl (3) sft in Jan.
Little Al 20-1 (11-9) Held up, pushed along 8th, soon weakened, pulled up before 3 out, in a race won by Sona Sasta (10-10) at Ffos Las 3m hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gs in Jan, 16 ran.
Oxiana (IRE) 33-1 (11-2) Held up, weakened 3 out, 12th of 13, well behind Meath All Star (11-5) at Ffos Las 2m 6f mdn hdl (4) sft in Jan.
Rossbrin (IRE) 50-1 (11-2) Held up towards rear, not fluent 1st, headway approaching 5th, weakened 6th, tailed off, 10th of 14, well behind Peveril (11-5) at Warwick 2m 3f NH nov hdl (4-7yo) (4) hvy in Feb.
The Ferbane Man (IRE) 6-1 (11-0) Mid-division, pushed along 7f out, headway to 3rd 2f out, kept on same pace, 3rd of 9, 7l behind Crannaghmore Boy (11-0) at Chepstow 2m NH flat (6) hvy in Dec.
Moorlands Teri 15-2 (10-7) Prominent, weakened approaching 2 out, 5th of 12, 27l behind Quentin Collonges (11-5) at Huntingdon 3m 2f nh nov hdl (4) gs in Dec.
