led, jumped right throughout, not fluent 10th, headed after 2 out, soon weakened
soon in touch, chased leaders after 3 out, stayed on well approaching last
tracked leader, pushed along 11th, weakened 5 out
held up in rear, headway 5 out, soon chasing leaders, weakened approaching last
held up in touch, ridden and weakened 4 out, behind when pulled up next
chased leaders, led after 3out, soon driven, clear approaching last, ran on well
Nonrunner
The form of the Philip Hobbs yard is hard to ignore at present but with the chance that Hereweareagain's mark has been over inflated by runs against better opposition we will just take the chance with MAGOT DE GRUGY while The Apprentice also makes plenty of appeal. Versatile as far has the ground is concerned the selection found just the one to good when racing off this mark last time. He's been racing solidly since scoring when a couple of pounds higher and he should run his race again. Hereweareagain was unplaced in half-a-dozen point-to-point starts but has looked better for racing under rules. He's been highly tried and there's been no disgrace in his results so with this a more realistic level for him he should be seen in a better light. The Apprentice is fitted with first time cheek pieces and they will need to bring about some improvement if he is to win off this mark, however, he should be competitive. The conditions look good for Massini Sunset to run a big race especially under his last winning mark but having failed recently when given similar good opportunities we go for consistency and Magot de Grugy.
Badger Foot (IRE) 14-1 (10-13) Raced wide, always behind, tailed off 3 out, 12th of 16, well behind Volador (11-6) at Wincanton 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-125 (3) hvy in Jan.
Hereweareagain (IRE) 16-1 (10-13) Held up in 4th, headway approaching 5th, chased winner before next, no chance from 3 out, weakened and lost 2nd last, 3rd of 5, well behind Tataniano (11-2) at Exeter 2m 1f beg chs (3) gd in Oct.
Magot de Grugy (FR) 5-2fav (10-5) Held up in touch, close 3rd after 11th, not fluent 5 out, hanging left thereafter, stayed on flat to take 2nd towards finish, 2nd of 7, 3 1/2l behind Chance Du Roy (11-8) at Chepstow 2m 3f hcp chs 0-125 (3) gd.
Josear 16-1 (10-12) Chased leaders, stumbled slightly 7th, lost place 10th, pulled up before last, in a race won by Noakarad De Verzee (11-5) at Huntingdon 3m hcp chs 0-115 (4) sft in Feb, 12 ran.
Massini Sunset (IRE) 5-1 (11-6) Took keen hold in touch, hit 7th, chased winner 3 out, weakened last, 2nd of 7, 10l behind Porta Vogie (11-6) at Huntingdon 2m 4f hcp chs 0-105 (4) gs.
Captain Marlon (IRE) 15-2 (11-2) Chased leaders, mistake 2nd, lost place 4 out, soon weakened, behind when jumped left 2 out, 6th of 10, 37l behind Sagalyrique (11-12) at Taunton 2m 3f hcp chs 0-110 (4) sft in Dec.
Royal Kicks (FR) 16-1 (11-10) In touch early, behind 4 out, tailed off, 13th of 17, well behind Lady Bling Bling (11-2) at Kempton 2m 5f nov hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gs in Feb.
The Apprentice (IRE) 9-2 (11-2) Held up in rear, blundered badly 2nd, soon detached, hit 13th, headway next, went 4th approaching last, one pace, 4th of 8, 9l behind No Panic (11-6) at Stratford 2m 7f hcp chs 0-120 (3) gf.
