jumped left, chased winner until ridden 13th, weakened after next
chased leading pair, went 2nd 13th until approaching 4 out, one pace in 3rd after
chased leadrs, mistake 9th, blundered and almost unseated rider 12th, behind and mistake 14th, pulled up before 4 out
held up in last trio, steady headway 8th (water), went 3rd 13th, went 2nd before 4 out, no chance with winner
led in start, held up in rear, not fluent 5th, mistake next, headway to 4th approaching 4 out, mistake and weakened 4 out, poor 4th when hit 2 out
made all, propped 2nd, went left 3rd, came clear from 2 out, eased close home, unchallenged
in touch until very slow and rear 10th, struggling when blundered 12th, pulled up soon after
Old Wigmore has the best piece of recent form with last month's second at Ffos Las to his credit, but today's slow ground is a worry and the same doubts surround Sangfroid. The latter has claims on his earlier third at Worcester but that came on a fast surface. One who will have no issues with the going is MINELLA STARS as he's won and been placed in testing ground over hurdles. He's related to winning chasers and gets a tentative vote on his first start over fences. There's not much between Flaming Charlie and Simply Wings on their form over timber, but Rif and Another Display need to step up on what they've shown over fences so far.
Sangfroid 10-1 (11-3) Held up, jumped left 7th, closed 14th, jumped left and weakened 4 out, 5th of 9, 24l behind Connak (11-3) at Exeter 3m nov chs (3) gs.
Minella Stars (IRE) 7-4fav (11-5) Led to 7th, with leader, ridden 3 out, lost place before next, stayed on under pressure flat, just failed for 2nd, 3rd of 7, 4l behind Our Island (11-5) at Newbury 3m nov hdl (4) sft in Feb.
Flaming Charlie (IRE) 11-2 (11-4) Held up towards rear, headway approaching 9th, disputed lead 2 out and going well, soon drew clear, easily, won at Southwell 3m mdn hdl (4) gs in Feb '10 beating Dermatologiste (10-8) by 4 1/2l, 13 ran.
Simply Wings (IRE) 13-8fav (11-4) Held up, closer order from 3rd, 3rd before 6th, went 2nd 2 out, led before and went badly right last, driven and stayed on dourly flat, won at Hereford 2m 6f nh nov hdl (4) hvy in Feb beating Listenlook (11-11) by 2 1/4l, 6 ran.
Rif (FR) 22-1 (11-3) Held up in rear, hit 2nd, not fluent 10th, mistake 13th, some headway after 14th, hampered and weakened 4 out, 6th of 9, 34l behind Connak (11-3) at Exeter 3m nov chs (3) gs.
Old Wigmore (IRE) 11-10fav (11-5) Pressed leader, mistake 7th, challenged and not fluent 10th, led before 4 out, clear 2 out, at least 8 lengths ahead when went left and screwed last, lost all momentum and idled badly flat, headed close home, 2nd of 5, 1/2l behind Comehomequietly (11-12) at Ffos Las 3m nov chs (4) gd in Oct.
Another Display (IRE) 18-1 (11-9) Led to 4th, stayed chasing leaders, led before 9th to 10th, ridden 11th, struggling in rear 13th, tailed off, 7th of 10, well behind Far More Serious (11-4) at Newbury 3m nov hcp chs 0-125 (3) gs in Dec '09.
