Pass Me By and Tarquinius are both well handicapped on their old form and the latter showed a bit more last time when runner-up to Ballinhassig at Plumpton when Pete The Feat and Try Catch Me finished behind. Charlie Mann's stayer looks the main danger to SPOT THE BALL, who has been good form this term and can defy a 4lb weight rise earned by his second to Ukrainian Star at Towcester last month. Easter Lad was flattered by his proximity to Just Josie over C&D last time and his jumping continues to be an area of concern.
Spot The Ball (IRE) 7-4fav (11-9) Held up, headway 4th, chased winner from 6th, ridden approaching 2 out, no impression flat, 2nd of 7, 7l behind Ukrainian Star (11-12) at Towcester 3m hcp chs 0-100 (5) sft in Jan.
Pete The Feat (IRE) 8-1 (11-12) Mistake 1st, held up in rear, steady headway 12th, 4th approaching 14th, went 2nd after 3 out until hit next, soon no extra in 3rd, 3rd of 9, 16l behind Ballinhassig (9-11) at Plumpton 3m 2f hcp chs 0-100 (5) gs in Jan.
Venetian Lad 25-1 (10-11) Held up towards rear, headway to 4th at 12th, went poor 3rd last, 3rd of 8, 23l behind The Black Baron (11-0) at Folkestone 2m 5f mdn chs (5) gs in Jan.
Pass Me By 14-1 (11-5) Tracked leaders, reminders after 11th, hit 15th, weakened approaching 3 out, soon went remote 3rd, blundered last, tailed off, 3rd of 7, well behind Mortimers Cross (11-5) at Fontwell 3m 2f hcp chs 0-105 (4) sft in Jan.
Current Climate (IRE) 11-2 (11-5) Mid-division, outpaced when mistake 4 out, plugged on to take 4th run-in, 4th of 11, 22l behind Master d'Or (11-11) at Fontwell 2m 6f hcp chs 0-95 (5) hvy in Jan.
Sam Hall (FR) 10-1 (11-0) Tracked leaders in 3rd, mistake 6th, reminders after 7th, soon lost place and behind, pulled up 5 out, in a race won by Master d'Or (11-11) at Fontwell 2m 6f hcp chs 0-95 (5) hvy in Jan, 11 ran.
Tarquinius (FR) 9-2 (10-12) In touch in 5th, went 3rd before 7th, tracked winner 14th until after 3 out, rallied to 2nd again and stumbled 2 out, ridden and went left last, stayed on same pace flat, 2nd of 9, 1 3/4l behind Ballinhassig (9-11) at Plumpton 3m 2f hcp chs 0-100 (5) gs in Jan.
Try Catch Me (IRE) 14-1 (10-12) Chased leader, led 5th, mistake 8th, clear 11th, headed 13th, lost 2nd next, ridden before 4 out, went right and hit next, soon weakened, tailed off, 4th of 9, 49l behind Ballinhassig (9-11) at Plumpton 3m 2f hcp chs 0-100 (5) gs in Jan.
Easter Lad 9-2 (10-11) Not fluent in rear, mistake 11th, driven before 4 out, good headway after 3 out to 2nd before 2 out, soon no impression, well held when driven and closed on eased down winner towards finish, 2nd of 5, 3l behind Just Josie (11-9) at Folkestone 3m 1f hcp chs 0-95 (5) gs in Jan.
