took keen hold tracking leader, led 2 out, hard ridden when headed flat, no extra
led hit 3rd, headed before 4 out, weakened next, tailed off
chased leaders, slow 1st, mistake 4th, every chance when blundered 3 out, weakened next
settled in rear but in touch, smooth headway after 3 out, travelling on bit behind leader when not fluent last, quickened up to lead closing stages, comfortably
took keen hold tracking leaders, led before 4 out, headed 2 out, weakened before last
prominent, lost place 6th, rallied after 4 out, weakened after 2 out
Grace And Fortune showed signs of a return to form when second over track and trip last month but could have done without a 5lb rise. By contrast, ASCENDANT remains on the same mark as when winning a seller at Taunton last time and a conditional's allowance can give him the edge back in handicap company. Rocky Elsom has an outside chance on his reappearance but those left remain resolutely out of form.
Ascendant 13-8fav (10-12) Tracked leaders, slightly hampered 5th, went 2nd after 3 out, led before next, soon clear, very easily, won at Taunton 2m 1f sell hdl (5) sft in Nov beating Arrayan (11-8) by 14l, 9 ran.
Thomas Junior (FR) 16-1 (11-2) Held up behind in touch, outpaced after 3 out, never on terms, weakened next, 7th of 9, 18l behind Daveron (11-5) at Taunton 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-125 (3) sft.
Feb Thirtyfirst 50-1 (10-9) Chased leaders, under presssure 4 out, weakened next, tailed off, 8th of 9, well behind Cup Final (11-6) at Sandown 2m 6f hcp hdl (2) sft.
Rocky Elsom (USA) 11-4fav (12-3) Mid-division, driven after 4 out, weakened next, 10th of 12, 38l behind Galley Slave (11-2) at Stratford 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-100 (5) gd in Jul.
Dynamic Idol (USA) 7-2 (11-4) Mistakes, raced wide, held up 4th, stumbled 3rd, outpaced when not fluent next, lost touch 5th, tailed off and pulled up after bypassing omitted 7th, in a race won by Full Ov Beans (11-5) at Fakenham 2m cond hcp chs 0-105 (4) sft in Nov, 4 ran.
Grace And Fortune 10-1 (10-10) Tracked leaders, lost place 5th, headway before 4 out, pushed along before 2 out, kept on to chase winner last 75 yards, always held, 2nd of 6, 3l behind Millicent Silver (10-10) at Lingfield 2m 3f mdn hdl (4) hvy in Nov.
