held up in touch, headway 7th, chased leader when mistake 3 out, every chance next, stayed on strongly to lead close home
led, mistake 5 out, headed 2nd last, soon weakened
tracked leader, lost place 2nd, mistake 6th, soon under pressure and weakened
tracked leaders, went 2nd at 3rd, not fluent 3 out, gradually weakened
held up in rear, tracked leaders after 2nd, driven to lead 2 out, hard ridden and headed flat, no extra
Nonrunner
It should pay to focus on the three last-time-out winners here and we do just that in selecting SIR IAN to beat Sumdancer and Star Galaxy. The case for the selection is based around two key points; firstly, his success last time was impressive and secondly it came on ground similar to today's. A 7lb rise seems perfectly fair and the slightly drop in trip shouldn't bother this son of Turtle Island, so throw in the fact that Paddy Brennan is riding out of his skin and you have a backable combination. It has to be said though that the competition is stiff. Sumdancer won in facile fashion last time and remains well treated up just 7lbs himself. The concern is that victory came on bottomless ground but he has won here at Plumpton on good to soft, so there's little doubt he is capable of adapting and the eight-year-old is a massive danger to our pick. Similar comments apply to Star Galaxy who completes the shortlist. John Flint's charge has won three of his last four and looks capable of going close once more, but on a line through Rince Donn (runs at Taunton) he might find this a little too much. Quatre Huit has his first run for Tim Vaughan and needs a market check with the capable Dean Coleman claiming five, but he's been off the track since 2008 and it'd be some effort were he to beat these in-form rivals. Sebastiano hasn't managed a win in 16 starts over fences and can be opposed racing off a higher mark than when last seen over them, along with Littledon Aldor who races from out of the handicap. Nick Gifford does well here and One Cornetto could improve now the visor is tried, but we prefer the recent winning form of Sir Ian who can take this.
Sebastiano (FR) 7-1 (11-5) Mid-division, not fluent 5th, headway next, beaten when not fluent last, weakened flat, 6th of 16, 19l behind Oenologue (11-1) at Fontwell 2m 2f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) sft in Feb.
Sir Ian (IRE) 4-1fav (11-3) Made all at good pace, clear after 2 out, ran on well, won at Stratford 2m 4f hcp ch 0-110 (4) gd beating Or d'Oudairies (11-12) by 11l, 12 ran.
Sumdancer (NZ) 7-4fav (10-0) Tracked leader, led 7th, drew clear after 3 out, easily, won at Plumpton 2m 1f hcp chs 0-115 (4) hvy beating Rince Donn (10-11) by 21l, 4 ran.
One Cornetto (IRE) 7-1 (11-8) Chased leading pair until weakened quickly 8th, soon tailed off, 5th of 11, well behind Holmwood Legend (11-0) at Taunton 2m 3f hcp chs 0-105 (4) sft in Feb.
Star Galaxy (IRE) 6-1 (10-13) Held up, went 4th 3rd, went 2nd approaching 4 out, led last, stayed on well to draw clear flat, won at Chepstow 2m hcp chs 0-95 (5) hvy in Feb beating Littleton Aldor (10-1) by 11l, 9 ran.
Quatre Huit (FR) (10-7) 4th of 10, 24l behind Le Bazin (10-12) at Nancy(FR) 2m 3f chs in Sep '08.
Littleton Aldor (IRE) 16-1 (10-1) Raced keenly, jumped right, led and soon clear, headed last, no extra flat, 2nd of 9, 11l behind Star Galaxy (10-13) at Chepstow 2m hcp chs 0-95 (5) hvy in Feb.
