mid-division, jumped right 5th, headway next, ridden and weakened quickly approaching 3 out, pulled up before 2 out
held up, bumped 8th, headway next, ridden and weakened after 3 out, pulled up before last
held up, ridden and outpaced 4 out, under pressure and kept on, left 4th last
led and soon clear, headed 4 out, ridden and weakened next
tracked leaders, chased leaders 3 out, soon one pace
held up in rear, not fluent 4th, ridden and headway 4th out, 4th and held when unseated rider last
tracked leader from 3rd, led 4 out, clear 2 out, eased close home
mid-division, bumped 5th, behind from 7th, pulled up before 2 out
held up in touch, jumped right 8th, weakened 3 out, stumbled and unseated rider last
A tough race to call here for punters with very little between many of the leading lights but the principals look to be Femme D'avril, Barton Sun and Thieves'glen and the narrow vote is given to Femme D'Avril. The selection was a good second behind All Sonsilver last time out and off the same mark here he will be hard to beat under conditions that suit. Barton Sun rates the main danger as he won with plenty in hand last time out when beating Jimmys Duky but this looks more competitive and he looks vulnerable under his penalty. Thieves'glen is another that could go well on his latest second behind Milton Des Bieffes but he is rising in the weights without winning and looks opposable on that basis. Of the remainder Keepitsecret is from a yard in form and could go well at a price but he looks in the handicapers grip at present and with this in mind for the winner we return to Femme D'Avril.
Keepitsecret (IRE) 66-1 (10-12) Tracked leaders, every chance approaching 3 out, weakened before 2 out, 7th of 12, 37l behind Money Order (10-12) at Newbury 2m nov hdl (3) sft.
Island of Memories (IRE) 5-1 (11-10) In touch and keen, close up when unseated rider 4 out in race won by All Sonsilver (10-7) at Chepstow 2m hcp chs 0-90 (5) hvy, 9 ran.
Barton Sun (IRE) 3-1 (10-5) In touch, headway 4 out, led next, stayed on well, won at Newcastle 2m nov hcp chs 0-105 (4) sft in Jan beating Jimmys Duky (9-11) by 1 1/2l, 11 ran.
Thieves'glen 7-1 (11-6) Led to 6th, chased winner after, pushed along 3 out, stayed on same pace, 2nd of 9, 2 1/2l behind Milton Des Bieffes (11-4) at Hereford 2m hcp chs 0-90 (5) hvy in Jan.
Just Muckin Around (IRE) 16-1 (9-11) Held up, hit 8th, weakened approaching 5 out, 10th of 12, 36l behind Obelix De Longechaux (10-8) at Newbury 2m 2f hcp chs 0-110 (4) sft in Dec.
Bollitree Bob 11-1 (10-3) Held up, ridden 4 out, stayed on, 5th of 9, 8l behind Ericas Charm (11-11) at Ludlow 2m nov hcp chs 0-105 (4) gf in Nov.
Femme D'avril (FR) 7-4fav (10-3) Held up mid-division, headway 7th, going well approaching 2 out, ridden and switched left flat, every chance, just denied, 2nd of 9, 1/2l behind All Sonsilver (10-7) at Chepstow 2m hcp chs 0-90 (5) hvy.
Monkstown Road 28-1 (10-10) Behind, stumbled 7th, chased winner approaching 4 out, under pressure but only 5 lengths adrift 3 out, soon no chance with easy winner, 2nd of 4, 15l behind Chief Yeoman (11-3) at Leicester 2m beg chs (4) sft.
Thievery 11-1 (10-6) Held up, headway 7th, went 2nd approaching 2 out, soon beaten, 6th of 8, 11l behind Glen Thyne (11-0) at Towcester 2m hcp chs 0-95 (5) sft.
Scania Classic 200-1 (11-2) Jumped poorly in rear, ridden and struggling 5th, soon lost touch, well tailed off when pulled up 2 out in race won by Royal Shakespeare (11-2) at Kempton 2m nov chs (2) gs in Jan, 6 ran.
