Flaming Charmer has decent claims on his earlier win at Chepstow but is too inconsistent to have much confidence in. Freckle Face was winning for the first time in 20 attempts when scoring at Towcester and is upped 11lb for his trouble while dual hurdles winner Spirit Oscar is making her debut over the larger obstacles today. Young Hurricane can be given a shout as he drops back in distance but a speculative vote goes the way of KINGCORA, not beaten far in similar company at Ascot last month having slipped down the weights.
Flaming Charmer (IRE) 9-5fav (10-9) Tracked leaders in 3rd, mistake 10th, ridden before 3 out, soon weakened, in 3rd when fell last, in a race won by Bertie Boru (10-7) at Wincanton 2m 5f (3) hvy in Jan, 5 ran.
Spirit Oscar (IRE) 6-4 (11-5) Led, headed before 3 out, soon weakened, tailed off, 3rd of 5, 34l behind Marcilhac (11-2) at Plumpton 2m 5f NH nov hdl (4-7yo) (3) hvy in Jan.
Young Hurricane (IRE) 6-1 (11-11) Tracked leaders on inside, not fluent 1st, jumped left and went 2nd 4 out until 2 out, one pace flat, 3rd of 5, 4 1/2l behind Wood Yer (11-11) at Leicester 2m 7f hcp chs 0-115 (4) sft in Jan.
Tolkeins Tango (IRE) 20-1 (11-0) Held up towards rear, weakened before 2 out, 11th of 14, 24l behind Bob Tucker (10-6) at Wincanton 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-125 (3) hvy in Jan.
Kingcora (FR) 15-8fav (10-10) Held up in touch, headway to track leaders 7th, not fluent 10th, disputing close 2nd when blundered badly and nearly unseated rider 4 out, 2nd next, ridden to lead and dived at 2 out, driven soon after, headed run in and dropped to 3rd, lost 3rd post, 4th of 7, 2 3/4l behind Ballinvarrig (11-9) at Ascot 2m 3f hcp chs 0-125 (3) hvy in Jan.
Freckle Face 10-3 (11-12) Held up towards rear, headway 4 out, led before 2 out, left clear 2 out, kept on, won at Towcester 2m hcp chs 0-100 (5) hvy in Jan beating Highland River (10-8) by 19l, 7 ran.
Dont Do Mondays (IRE) 66-1 (11-4) Tracked leader until 5f out, weakened over 2f out, 13th of 16, 14l behind Pass Muster (11-1) at Kempton 2m n h flat (4) std in Jan.