raced wide, led 2nd, headed when mistake 2 out, driven and 1l down last, led, sprawled soon after, driven and kept on gamely
raced wide, held up in touch, headway going well approaching 3 out, led on bit approaching 2 out, ahead when sprawled last, soon headed, rallied gamely under pressure
held up, hit 3 out, driven and weakened approaching next
chased leaders in 4th until lost place approaching 3 out
raced on inside, led to 2nd, chased leaders until weakened approaching 3 out, soon eased when no chance
held up in touch, pushed along after 3 out, chased leading pair and stayed on same pace until next
tracked leading pair, challenged approaching 2 out, 3rd and held when mistake last
Princelet gets the confident selection here ahead of Prime Contender and Adjami. The selection has been raised 8lbs for a gutsy success on his handicap debut over course and distance, however his original mark looked lenient and he could easily be up to defying his current one. He unfortunately lost an eye when falling at Huntingdon, but like most horses he gets on well with his Champion Jockey and looks the solid choice. Adjami represents a yard in cracking form, and his third last time out reads fairly well in the context of this race. However he would prefer better ground so is passed over, as is Dafarabad who returns to hurdles after one chasing fall. This may just be more of a confidence booster for him. Prime Contender would have been closer last time out but for a major blunder so can be expected to make the frame today, whilst Romany Prince looks too high in the weights and would prefer a longer trip. This looks a decent opportunity for Princelet to continue his progress and he is taken to win again.
Romany Prince 10-1 (11-12) Tracked leaders, disputed lead after 5th, lost place 3 out, soon ridden and weakened, 8th of 11, well behind Treaty Flyer (10-6) at Market Rasen 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-125 (3) gf in Jun.
Princelet (IRE) 5-4fav (10-10) Held up, headway3 out, chased leaders, led approaching 2 out, soon strongly pressed, hard driven to assert final 100 yards, won at Kempton 2m hcp hdl 0-130 (3) gs in Dec beating Orcadian (11-8) by 3/4l, 14 ran.
Prime Contender 9-2 (11-9) Chased leaders, led 4th, blundered and headed 5th, led again 3 out, ridden and headed approaching 2 out, weakened approaching last, 5th of 11, 8l behind Nikola (11-7) at Leicester 2m hcp hdl 0-125 (3) sft in Dec.
Adjami (IRE) 14-1 (11-12) Held up towards rear, ridden, headway approaching 3 out, chased leader 3 out, kept on same pace after, 3rd of 11, 15l behind Master Mahogany (11-2) at Exeter 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-120 (3) gs in Dec.
Candarli (IRE) 5-4fav (11-3) Led, headed 2 out, soon ridden, one pace, 2nd of 6, 3 1/2l behind Andre Chenier (12-0) at Perth 2m clm hdl (5) gd in Aug.
Lord Lington (FR) 66-1 (10-1) Behind, mistake 5th, never a factor, 6th of 14, 20l behind Princelet (10-10) at Kempton 2m hcp hdl 0-130 (3) gs in Dec.
Dafarabad (IRE) 4-1 (10-9) Always towards rear, tailed off when fell 3 out in race won by Island of Memories (10-2) at Uttoxeter 2m hcp chs 0-110 (4) gs in Nov, 7 ran.
Magic Sky (FR) 28-1 (11-7) Behind, headway after 5th, ridden approaching 2 out, one pace flat, 3rd of 11, 6l behind Nikola (11-7) at Leicester 2m hcp hdl 0-125 (3) sft in Dec.
