chased leaders, mistakes 9th and 12th, soon under pressure, rallied 14th, soon weakened, tailed off
held up in touch, mistake when chasing leaders 11th, jumped slowly 13th, weakened 4 out
tracked leader, mistake 14th, driven to challenge 3 out, weakened next
made all, soon 6 lengthes clear, mistake 3rd, jumped right 8th, not fluent next, mistake 12th, stayed on gamely, unchallenged, eased close home
held up in rear, mistake 9th, headway 12th, undewr pressure 3 out, soon no impression
The ex-Irish El Jo is poorly handicapped and has a long absence to overcome but the remaining quartet look closely matched. Pheidias is reasonably treated and likes it around here having scored over the C&D last May. The handicapper has done Mr Big no favours in raising him 8lb for beating Rate Of Knots a head at Warwick though he generally runs in better company than this. Ray Mond was one of the great success stories of last year winning five successive handicaps over fences. He returned from a break on a 12lb higher mark at Folkestone in November but ran very well until tiring. He'll be spot-on for this and is certain to take some beating but FLYING SQUAD has won his last two races in such impressive manner that he'll be receiving a big hike in the weights and will take the world of beating under his penalty.
El Jo (IRE) 7-2fav (11-10) Mid-division, closer in 6th approaching 7 out, no impression and kept on same pace from 5 out, 9th of 14, well behind Goinforporter (10-12) at Limerick 3m hcp chs 0-109 sft in May '09.
Pheidias (IRE) 20-1 (11-2) Chased eader 3rd, led 10th, headed 16th, stayed chasing leaders and still well there under pressure 3 out, 4th and no extra from next, rallied to close on weakening 3rd close home, 4th of 11, 4l behind Sarde (11-2) at Newbury 3m 2f am hcp chs 0-125 (3) gs in Nov.
Mr Big (IRE) 5-1 (11-4) Led to 1st, tracked leaders, went 2nd 12th, led narrowly before 2 out, soon hard pressed, ridden and headed narrowly flat, rallied to regain lead post, won at Warwick 3m hcp chs 0-115 (4) sft in Dec beating Rate Of Knots (11-10) by hd, 10 ran.
Ray Mond 6-1 (10-13) Led, hit 11th, ridden and kept on well until ridden and joined 2 out, headed under pressure last, no chance with unextended winner but kept on for clear 2nd, 2nd of 7, 4l behind Zarrafakt (11-8) at Folkestone 2m 5f hcp chs 0-125 (3) sft in Nov.
Flying Squad (UAE) 4-1 (9-11) Held up in rear, steady headway 9th, led going well approaching 2 out, stayed on well, won at Towcester 2m 6f hcp chs 0-135 (3) sft beating Ballyegan (9-8) by 2 1/2l, 11 ran.
