prominent, blundered 4th, led after 7th, headed approaching 2 out, rallied last, stayed on under pressure
held up in rear, pushed along 4th, tailed off next, pulled up 6th
held up towards rear, headway 4th, chased leaders next, challenging when hung left approaching last, kept on well closing stages
chased leaders, mistake 4th, led approaching 2 out, ran on well (3 hurdles ommited)
tracked leaders, lost place approaching 4th, struggling after 7th, tailed off, modest 5th
held up towards rear, mistake 1st, headway 4th, chased leaders approaching 7th, never able to challenge
in touch, lost place 6th, soon behind, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out
led, jumped right throughout, mistake 7th, soon headed, gradually weakened, behind when pulled up before 2 out
Lingfield second First Avenue loves the mud and is still coming down the weights. The lack of a recent run may not be a problem for Rock Gone while Cannon Fodder and Prouts Pub were both successful on their penultimate starts. Jumps Road is 10lb lower than his last winning mark but we prefer stablemate BILLY NO NAME. He was given too much to do at Kempton on Boxing Day but is more than capable of figuring in a race like this if ridden closer to the pace. Fountains Blossom has only found one too good in her last two but is still creeping up the handicap.
Cannon Fodder 40-1 (11-0) Prominent, under pressure 4 out, rallied next, every chance 2 out, kept on same pace approaching last, 3rd of 10, 9 1/2l behind Vroum Vroum Mag (11-3) at Ascot 3m (1) sft in Jan.
Prouts Pub (IRE) 12-1 (10-4) Mid-division, lost place before 3 out, weakened before last, 8th of 9, 15 3/4l behind Solstice Star (10-0) at Cheltenham 2m 1f hcp (2) hvy in Jan.
Rock Gone (IRE) 8-15fav (11-0) Tracked leading pair, went 2nd 4 out, upsides going well next, soon led, pushed clear before next, unchallenged after, eased flat, won at Uttoxeter 2m 4f mdn (5) hvy in Dec beating Dancing Shadow (11-0) by 14l, 4 ran.
Billy No Name (IRE) 10-1 (10-13) Towards rear, wide and headway approaching 2 out, no impression after, 7th of 14, 16 1/2l behind Baron Alco (11-4) at Kempton 2m 5f hcp (3) gs in Dec.
First Avenue 10-1 (11-0) Tracked leaders, went 3rd between last two, driven into 2nd when mistake last, no chance with very easy winner, 2nd of 6, 11l behind Gevrey Chambertin (11-12) at Lingfield 2m 3f hcp (3) hvy in Dec.
Jumps Road 12-1 (11-9) Led until after 2nd, slow 4th, weakened after 3 out, 7th of 12, 18 1/4l behind Floresco (10-13) at Wincanton 1m 7f hcp (3) sft in Jan.
Fountains Blossom 10-3 (11-7) In rear and in touch, went 2nd before 3 out, ridden before 2 out, one pace, 2nd of 5, 6l behind Iron Butterfly (11-12) at Doncaster 2m 4f hcp (4) sft in Jan.
Warrant Officer 6-1 (11-3) Prominent, ridden and weakened 3 out, 6th of 8, dist behind Loves Destination (10-11) at Plumpton 2m hcp (5) hvy in Feb.
