led to 3rd, led again 6th, blundered 5 out, hit last, all out
held up and mistake, reminders 10th, lost place from next, pulled up before 4 out
held up, blundered and unseated rider 1st
tracked leaders, ridden in 3rd and weakening when fell 3 out
in touch, hit 3rd, driven along 11th, weakened approaching 3 out
held up, headway approaching 11th, ridden and every chance 2 out, hard ridden from last, kept on running, just failed
prominent, led 3rd, jumped right 5th, headed next, weakened approaching 4 out, pulled up before 3 out
tracked leaders, reminders and lost place from 11th
soon behind, mistake 10th, pulled up after next
A chance is taken with Dante Citizen, who edges preference over Tom Fruit and Cordilla. There may also be more to come from Denada now that he has managed to complete a race. Susan Knock's charge jumped big and bold at Huntingdon last month and he is capable of getting competitive with a similar effort here. However, his record tells its own story and he is for the brave only. Cordilla is a consistent type that will be suited by the underfoot conditions. Nevertheless, he looks harshly treated at present and will do well to cope with his latest rise in the weights. Naunton Brook is another that looks opposable on that score, as he has struggled to recapture the sparkle he showed before he suffered a career threatening foot injury a couple of seasons ago. There are limited option for him at present and his future is also in the hands of the official assessor. Tom Fruit ran an encouraging race on his reappearance here last November and was then unlucky to be brought down when winding up to challenge in his only subsequent outing. He has been given a break since then but, as he goes well fresh, he looks a danger to the selection. Even so, Dante Citizen makes more appeal from a betting perspective. Tom George has placed him to good effect of late and he comes here with his confidence boosted after holding his own in fair company. The step up to this trip open new doors for Dante Citizen and he should not be underestimated in a tricky little race.
Naunton Brook 22-1 (11-8) Chased leader, weakened 12th, tailed off 4 out, 6th of 10, 31l behind Sonevafushi (12-5) at Taunton 3m 3f hcp chs 0-130 (3) gs in Jan.
Cordilla (IRE) 3-1fav (11-4) Close up, chased leader approaching 2 out, every chance last, kept on flat, 3rd of 10, 1 1/2l behind D J Flippance (10-0) at Ayr 3m 1f hcp chs 0-125 (D) sft in Dec.
Tom Fruit 5-1 (10-10) Held up brought down 5 out in race won by Sharp Belline (10-2) at Wetherby 2m 7f hcp chs 0-125 (D) gs in Nov, 9 ran.
Dante Citizen (IRE) 7-2fav (10-0) Chased leader, mistake 15th, ridden and effort approaching 4 out, weakened 2 out, 3rd of 10, well behind Almost Broke (11-9) at Wincanton 3m 1f hcp chs 0-135 (3) gs in Jan.
Denada 20-1 (10-12) Held up, headway 4 out, chased winner next, kept on same pace, 2nd of 11, 9l behind Party Games (11-5) at Huntingdon 3m nov chs (4) gs in Jan.
Hawk's Landing (IRE) 8-1 (11-11) Mid-division, ridden approaching 10th, soon weakened, 11th of 12, 42l behind Lost In Normandy (10-0) at Bangor 2m 4f hcp chs 0-105 (E) hvy in Dec.
Superrollercoaster 15-2 (10-11) In touch, chased winner 11th, driven and lost place 3 out, soon ridden and weakened, 4th of 8, 33l behind Kinburn (11-12) at Carlisle 3m nov hcp chs 0-120 (3) hvy in Jan.
Strong Magic (IRE) 33-1 (9-9) Tracked leader, lost place 11th, hit 10th, weakened and mistake 13th, soon tailed off, 6th of 7, well behind Melford (10-13) at Fakenham 3m hcp chs 0-125 (3) gd in Jan.
Pardini (USA) 16-1 (10-8) Prominent, led 9th to approaching 14th, weakened 16th, 4th of 10, 40l behind Finzi (10-7) at Warwick 3m 2f hcp chs 0-110 (4) sft in Jan.
