held up well in rear, headway from 11th, 3rd when blundered 3 out, chased winner approaching 2 out until between last 2, soon beaten, weakened flat
held up towards rear, ridden after 3rd, hit 5th, struggling from 10th, pulled up before last
mid-division, took keen hold, not fluent 5th, headway next, ridden after 8th, weakened approaching 10th, pulled up after 3 out
tracked leaders, weakened 3 out, edged right flat, went 3rd towards finish
mid-division, struggling 10th, never dangerous
held up in rear, hit 3rd and 7th, stuggling approaching 3 out
led, clear 6th, 5 lenghts ahead last, edged left flat, just clung on
held up in rear, hit 9th, headway approaching 3 out, chased winner after 2 out, edged right flat, stayed on, just failed
held up towards rear, ridden after 7th, blundered badly 9th, pulled up after 3 out
chased leaders until before 6th, stuggling 10th, no impression after
mid-division, headway approaching 8th, struggling 3 out, plugged on from next
chased leader until after 7th, weakened approaching 10th, pulled up before last
tracked leaders, chased clear leader 7th until approaching 2 out, soon weakened
Nonrunner
FRENCH TIES seems to relish a thorough test of stamina and is preferred to Count Boris and Montana Gold. The selection landed a gamble at Sedgefield over 3 miles three and a half before narrowly failing to defy a penalty at Taunton over an extended three miles. He's 11lbs higher than when winning at Sedgefield but will relish stepping back up in trip and it just remains to be seen how much those two runs have taken out of him. Count Boris failed to land a gamble at Fakenham on his reappearance and again let his supporters down on his return to the same venue. However, he bumped into a progressive rival on the first occasion and appeared to pay the price for setting too strong a pace last time so may be worth another chance. Montana Gold has yet to win a race but he did go close over fences last time behind a decent yardstick on debut for this yard and should go well now that they have recaptured some form. Saddlers Mot has found some form of late and could challenge for a share of the spoils whilst My Skipper and Cash Calculator are others that are worthy of interest but the nod is given to French Ties.
French Ties (IRE) 3-1fav (10-12) Held up in rear, headway 8th, led 2 out, ridden and hung left after last, headed near finish, 2nd of 15, hd behind Dawn At Sea (11-8) at Taunton 3m hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gs.
Finmere (IRE) 28-1 (11-9) Held up, pushed along 4 out, soon outpaced, 12th of 18, 32l behind Captain Smoothy (10-3) at Exeter 2m 5f 4yo Am hcp 0-100 (4) sft in Dec.
Hoar Frost 6-1 (9-12) Raced wide, chased leaders, went 2nd before 4 out, led before and hit 2 out, headed last, no extra flat, 2nd of 8, 2 1/4l behind Applaude (10-12) at Leicester 2m sll hdl (5) gf in Nov.
Eastwell Smiles 12-1 (11-4) Tracked leader, mistake 7th, every chance 3 out, soon under pressure and one pace, 2nd of 7, 13l behind Natural Action (12-0) at Folkestone 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-105 (4) hvy in Nov.
Saddlers Mot 13-2 (10-10) Held up mid-division, soon chasing leaders, went 2nd going to 2 out, kept on, 2nd of 13, 2l behind Meet Me At Dawn (9-11) at Huntingdon 2m 5f cnd hcp hdl 0-95 (5) sft in Jan.
Montana Gold (IRE) 2-1fav (11-1) Held up towards rear, mistake 11th, headway 15th, chased leaders next, led before 3 out, strongly challenged next, headed, no extra towards finish, 2nd of 9, 1/2l behind Its A Classic (11-11) at Fontwell 3m 2f hcp chs 0-95 (5) sft in Dec.
Paktol Des Brosses (FR) 16-1 (10-12) Chased leaders on inner, led before 5th, driven along before 3 out, soon headed and weakened from next, 6th of 9, 14l behind Callerlilly (11-12) at Exeter 2m 5f nov hcp hdl 0-105 (4) sft in Nov.
My Skipper (IRE) 16-1 (10-1) Held up towards rear, headway approaching 3 out, chased winner 2 out, no impression last, 2nd of 14, 8l behind Power Shared (10-6) at Hereford 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) sft in Dec.
Cash Calculator (IRE) 10-1 (10-9) Held up, weakened approaching 6th, tailed off from 3 out, 7th of 13, 35l behind Meet Me At Dawn (9-11) at Huntingdon 2m 5f cnd hcp hdl 0-95 (5) sft in Jan.
Saint Par (FR) 16-1 (11-1) Mid-division, lost place 4th, plugged on from 2 out, 6th of 15, 20l behind Jackers (11-5) at Towcester 2m 3f am hcp hdl 0-90 (5) hvy in Jan.
English Jim (IRE) 10-3 (9-10) Mid-division, weakened 3 out, 3rd of 7, 16l behind Natural Action (12-0) at Folkestone 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-105 (4) hvy in Nov.
Bollywood (IRE) 28-1 (9-7) Mid-division, pushed along after 5th, weakened approaching next, 10th of 11, 47l behind Lord Singer (11-5) at Fontwell 2m 2f nov hcp hdl 0-110 (4) sft in Jan.
Walkingonsunshine 250-1 (10-9) In touch, weakened approaching 3 out, tailed off, 9th of 13, well behind Watamu Bay (11-4) at Towcester 3m nov hdl (4) hvy in Jan.
Count Boris 7-4fav (11-10) Tracked leaders, led after 6th, headed approaching 4 out, no extra, 2nd of 9, 20l behind Vivarini (10-10) at Fakenham 2m 7f hcp hdl 0-95 (5) sft in Jan.
Light Entertainer 100-1 (10-12) Held up in touch, ridden after 3 out, soon weakened, 8th of 13, 37l behind Bangkok Pete (10-12) at Fontwell 2m 4f nh nov hdl (4) sft in Dec.
Poppy Gregg 40-1 (10-8) Chased leader to approaching 7th, soon weakened, losing touch when mistake next, tailed off and pulled up approaching 2 out, in a race won by Raise You Five (11-2) at Fontwell 2m 6f nov hcp hdl 0-95 (5) hvy in Nov, 12 ran.
