chased leading trio, driven and outpaced 3 out, rallied under strong pressure to take modest 3rd flat
took keen hold, hit 1st, chased leading pair, led on inside after 2nd, headed briefly after 6th, blundered badly and great recovery by rider to stay in saddle 6th, chased winner and every chance 3 out, weakened and hit 2 out, hit last
chased leader until after 2nd, stayed in 3rd until weakened 6th, soon behind, hit last
led until after 2nd, pressed leader, challenged from 5th, led next, stayed on well flat, driven out
Storm Command failed to impress in three runs over timber last summer and probably best watched after a lay-off. Little Roxy's third over a longer trip here last month was out of character with previous efforts but Stravita could be interesting in first-time blinkers, though she hasn't been seen since failing to justify favouritism in a Fakenham seller in October. Mut'Ab hasn't show a great deal since finishing third over today's C&D on faster ground in the autumn so this is probably best left to WHITCOMBE SPIRIT, who does at least have a recent win to his name and wasn't entirely disgraced under a penalty at Folkestone at the start of the month.
Whitcombe Spirit 3-1fav (10-5) Raced on inside, held up in rear and off the pace, headway on inside before last, driven and no impression soon after, 4th of 6, 6l behind The Bishops Baby (11-0) at Folkestone 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) sft.
Stravita 7-2fav (11-3) In rear, headway after 6th, stumbled approaching next and lost place, hit 3 out, ridden and headway after 2 out, kept on one pace, 4th of 9, 7l behind Brilliant (10-7) at Fakenham 2m cnd sll hcp hdl 0-85 (5) gd in Oct.
Storm Command (IRE) 33-1 (10-9) Hampered 1st, headway next, challenged 5th until after 3 out, weakened before next, 3rd of 8, 37l behind Gulf Punch (11-0) at Newton Abbot 2m 1f 3yo nov hdl (4) gd in Aug.
Red Perfection 25-1 (10-12) Chased leaders, hard ridden when mistake 3 out, soon weakened, pulled up before next, in a race won by Molly Round (10-7) at Towcester 2m 3f am hcp hdl 0-90 (5) sft in Jan, 14 ran.
Little Roxy (IRE) 6-1 (10-5) Held up in rear, headway 9th, chased leaders 3 out, soon hard ridden, weakened next, 3rd of 8, 17l behind Arctic Flow (9-11) at Plumpton 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-90 (5) gs in Jan.
Mut'ab (USA) 15-2 (11-9) Held up in rear, headway after 5th, went 4th 3 out, weakened next, 4th of 11, 32l behind Mayolynn (11-12) at Leicester 2m hcp hdl 0-95 (5) sft.
