chased leaders, not fluent 7th, ridden and weakened from 4 out
chased leader, led 7th, mistake 3 out, in command before last, stayed on well
led to 3rd, chased leaders, mistake 10th, went 3rd 4 out, chased winner 2 out, ridden and no impression
chased leaders, went 2nd 5th, ridden and blundered 4 out, pulled up next
reared, ridden and blundered 10th, hit 4 out, 6th and well beaten when fell last
held up in rear, hit 8th, steady headway 4 out, went 3rd 3 out, ridden and beaten after 2 out
held up in touch, headway to chase leaders 11th, went 2nd before 4 out until 2 out, weakened soon after
led 3rd to 7th, weakened 11th, no chance when blundered badly 4 out and pulled up
PLANET OF SOUND impressed over course and distance and is taken to follow up. Cheating Chance, French Opera and Shatabdi are amongst adversaries of interest. Song Of Songs is a rare runner over fences for James Fanshawe and, as such, merits close attention but this is a tough introduction. There were high hopes for Greenbridge at the start of the season but he has been found wanting on all three starts and is starting to look disappointing even allowing for the quality of the opposition. Shatabdi will attempt to make good use of the mares' allowance and she's run two sound races over fences. She chased home Arkle fancy Kalahari King before beating subsequent winner over hurdles, Aimigayle. Cheating Chance failed to fire behind Araldur and Free World at Sandown and will struggle to give the weight away but he can be given a chance on the form of his Ascot win. French Opera wasn't convincing in defeat to a French trained winner of the Grade 2 Wayward Lad Novices' Chase and he may need a drop in grade to enable him to open his account over fences. The selection has already done that and is saddled with a penalty accordingly but he fulfilled the promise of his chase bow when winning here in good fashion last time and is a nice prospect. That race may not have taken much winning with his market rival failing to fire but don't let that put you off Planet Of Sound.
Cheating Chance (IRE) 5-1 (11-8) Held up in 4th, ridden and struggling before 4 out, last of 5, well behind Araldur (11-2) at Sandown 2m nov chs Grd 2 (1) gs in Dec.
French Opera 7-1 (11-2) Jumped left, tracked leaders, mistake 3rd, went 2nd before 3 out, ridden and every chance when jumped left 2 out, soon no chance with winner, 2nd of 6, 9l behind Original (11-2) at Kempton 2m nov chs Grd 2 (1) gd in Dec.
Greenbridge (IRE) 3-1fav (11-0) Chased leaders, led 6th, headed and hit 3 out, no extra flat, 2nd of 11, 5l behind Pop (11-0) at Doncaster 2m 3f beg chs (4) sft in Dec.
Hill Forts Timmy 25-1 (10-11) Held up in last pair, struggling in 4th 4 out, soon weakened, left 3rd next, 3rd of 5, 32l behind Herecomesthetruth (11-6) at Taunton 2m 3f nov chs (3) sft in Dec.
Song of Songs 7-2fav (10-13) Mid-division, ridden 4 out, soon weakened and pulled up 3 out in race won by Pearl King (10-10) at Aintree 2m lst hcp hdl (1) gd in Apr, 21 ran.
Shatabdi (IRE) 4-6fav (10-7) Mid-division, mistake 4th, headway 7th, left 2nd 10th, challenged 12th, led 2 out, stayed on well flat, won at Huntingdon 2m 4f mrs nov chs (4) gs in Dec beating Aimigayle (11-6) by 2 1/2l, 8 ran.
Mud Monkey 50-1 (10-9) Led to 1st, led after 2nd, ridden and headed approaching 3 out, weakened quickly, 9th of 11, well behind Suntini (10-1) at Exeter 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-125 (3) sft in Dec.
