soon with leader, led after 4th, headed briefly 8th, headed 3 out, weakened approaching 2 out
prominent, good headway after 8th, challenged on bit approaching 3 out, soon led, ridden approaching last, driven out
towards rear when fell 2nd
soon led, headed after 4th, close up and ridden after 8th, outpaced 3 out, rallied approaching last, ran on close home
towards rear, jumped slowly 5th, ridden approaching 6th, weakened approaching 3 out
mid-division, weakened and mistake 6th, soon behind
Most of these have scope for improvement but Margot De Grugy looks to be on an upwards curve and can get the better of The Gangerman and Wrags To Riches. There may also be a bit more to come from M'Lord now that he steps up in distance and it will be no surprise to see him go close if he is fit after his summer break. The handicapper took no chances with Wrags To Riches over fences last season and he reverts to hurdles on a fair mark in comparison. However, he has never won over timber and needs everything to drop just right for him. The Gangerman is hard to weight up, as he has shown flashes of ability in his five previous outings over timber. However, he has also flattered to deceive on occasions and, as the Nigel Twiston-Davies-trained gelding is running out of excuses, he is not one to trust implicitly. Margot De Grugy presents a far safer profile and, as an improving individual, he is worth persevering with at this stage of his development. The five-year-old has taken time to get the hang of things since he made his debut in France last April but now looks more like the finished article. He went up 10lbs for winning an ordinary race at Lingfield and now has a bit more to prove. But Margot De Gugy looks well up to the task and is expected to take all the beating here.
Wrags To Riches (IRE) 25-1 (11-0) Tracked leaders, mistake 6th, weakened 10th, tailed off when pulled up 2 out in race won by Whispered Secret (11-12) at Cheltenham 2m 4f hcp chs 0-135 (C) gd in Oct, 10 ran.
M'Lord 12-1 (11-4) Held up in rear, headway after 3 out, never dangerous, 5th of 11, 25l behind Voy Por Ustedes (11-7) at Huntingdon 2m nov hdl (E) gd in Jan.
Magot de Grugy (FR) 5-1 (11-3) Prominent, ridden to lead after 8th, stayed on well under pressure from 2 out, won at Lingfield 2m 3f nov hcp hdl 0-105 (E) sft in Oct beating Down's Folly (11-8) by 6l, 15 ran.
Hard N Sharp 6-1 (11-0) Took keen hold, held up in touch, led 7th, headed flat, edged left, no extra, 3rd of 17, 10l behind Pardon What (11-0) at Worcester 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-105 (E) gd.
The Gangerman (IRE) 5-2 (11-5) With leader, led 6th to 7th, every chance 3 out, soon ridden, hung left and hit last, weakened flat, 4th of 5, 6l behind New Time (11-1) at Towcester 2m 5f nov hcp hdl 0-105 (E) gf in Oct.
Land Rover Lad 14-1 (11-3) In touch, ridden approaching 3 out, one pace under pressure before next, 4th of 10, 19l behind Harley (11-2) at Sandown 2m 4f cnd hcp hdl 0-105 (E) gs.
Gordy's Joy 150-1 (9-12) Tracked leaders, jumped right 5th, weakened when mistake 7th, behind when pulled up 5 out in race won by Unleash (10-12) at Worcester 2m 4f beg chs (E) gf in Aug, 9 ran.
