held up in touch, headway when hit 3 out, soon weakened
tracked leaders, led 4 out, driven out
held up, tracked leaders 7th, chased winner approaching 2 out, stayed on well towards finish
tracked leader, hit 4 out, ridden approaching next, one pace
held up in rear, hit 2nd, struggling from 7th
led to 4 out, weakened next
TARABLAZE can take this prize at the principal expense of Massasoit and Thetwincamdrift. Philip Hobbs' charge ran out an emphatic winner of a contest over 2m4f at the course and on that evidence, this step up to an extended three miles really shouldn't cause much in the way of problems. Massasoit was disappointing at Newbury having accounted for On Raglan Road at Aintree. That said, the latter hasn't really gone on to uphold the form. Thetwincamdrift was probably a speculative entry having won a maiden at Doncaster a fortnight ago. This is a massive leap up in class. Jaunty Journey won a Chepstow maiden at 50/1. This race comes fresh off the back of two slogs in the mud. Brackenmoss steps up in trip whilst Cresswell Willow was well beaten on a recent foray over chase fences and would have been much better off were this a handicap. Tarablaze is fancied to follow up a recent course success.
Massasoit (IRE) 5-2 (11-7) Disputed lead, slight advantage 4 out, blundered badly and headed 3 out, weakened before next, not recover, 5th of 6, 34l behind Diamond Harry (11-7) at Newbury 2m 5f nov hdl Grd 1 (1) gs in Dec.
Tarablaze (IRE) 13-8fav (11-11) Held up, headway 5 out, led after 4 out, driven out, stayed on well, won at Haydock 2m 4f nov hdl (4) sft in Jan beating Moscow Catch (11-11) by 3 1/2l, 16 ran.
Thetwincamdrift (IRE) 2-1fav (11-0) Held up towards rear, chased leaders 4 out, challenged 3 out, led last, kept on well, won at Doncaster 3m mdn hdl (4) gs in Jan beating The Hollinwell (11-0) by 3l, 14 ran.
Jaunty Journey 33-1 (10-3) Led, headed and hit 2nd, stayed prominent, hit 5th, ridden 3 out, soon weakened, 9th of 14, 23l behind Chief Yeoman (10-10) at Sandown 2m 6f hcp hdl Grd 3 (1) sft in Jan.
Brackenmoss (IRE) 5-1 (11-0) Prominent, led 4 out, headed after next, weakened approaching last, 3rd of 9, 19l behind Comhla Ri Coig (11-7) at Ayr 2m nov hdl (4) hvy in Jan.
Cresswell Willow (IRE) 7-1 (11-8) Held up, blundered 9th, mistakes 13th and 14th, weakening when hit 15th, tailed off when blundered 3 out, left distant 3rd from last, 3rd of 8, well behind Pangbourne (11-3) at Taunton 3m 3f hcp chs 0-130 (3) gs in Jan.
