held up in touch, took keen hold, effort when mistake 3 out, soon no impression, held in 3rd when fell last
made all, ridden 2 out, stayed on well
held up in rear but in touch, headway to chase leaders halfway, weakened 3 out, moderate 4th
tracked leaders, not fluent 3nd, effort 3 out, left in 3rd at last, weakened
traced leader, ridden to challenge 2 out, stayed on same pace approaching last
Royal Plaza has failed to build on his victory at Warwick in November while Baron Du Plessis disappointed at Musselburgh after finishing second at Warwick. But Seymour Star got off the mark in a maiden over this course and distance in January and Mixchievous has been placed twice at Sandown since the turn of the year, though doesn’t look an easy ride. ALIANDY is still creeping up the weights but he possibly found 3m too far last time at Taunton. This is more his trip and he should take all the beating.
Royal Plaza 8-1 (12-0) Raced on inside and keen, held up, good headway to lead after 4th, hit 7th, headed 3 out, chased leaders, hit 2 out, weakened soon after, 7th of 12, dist behind Walt (11-7) at Fontwell 2m 3f hcp (3) sft in Jan.
Seymour Star 22-1 (11-5) Led, headed before 4 out, led last, kept on well run-in, won at Ludlow 2m 5f mdn (4) sft in Jan beating Shanroe In Milan (11-5) by 2 3/4l, 11 ran.
Aliandy (IRE) 6-1 (11-12) Led into start, held up in rear, not fluent 3rd, headway approaching 8th, mistake last, went 2nd and stayed on flat, no impression on winner, 2nd of 15, 3 3/4l behind Another Frontier (11-10) at Taunton 3m hcp (4) sft in Feb.
Mixchievous 7-2 (11-5) Took keen hold, tracked leading pair until 4th, chased leaders, not fluent 6th and lost place, rallied under pressure into modest 3rd run-in, 3rd of 7, 7l behind Justification (11-7) at Sandown 2m 4f hcp (4) sft in Feb.
Baron Du Plessis (FR) 2-1fav (10-11) Tracked leaders, ridden before 2 out, soon weakened, 7th of 12, 18 1/4l behind Dominada (11-12) at Musselburgh 2m 3f hcp (4) gd in Jan.
