tracking leaders on inside in 4th place when blundered badly and fell 5th
jumped well, made all, came clear before 2 out, kept on strongly, unchallenged
tracked leaders in 3rd, went 2nd before 2 out, kept on same pace, no chance with easy winner
never really travelled, held up off the pace in last, left in remote 4th place 5th, plugged on and went poor 3rd towards finish
chased winner, pushed along after 3 out, ridden and lost 2nd before next, lost poor 3rd towards finish
A useful sort on the Flat, BRANDON CASTLE (NAP) has taken well to hurdling and won both starts so far over the course and distance. He’s worth sticking with now handicapping having defied a penalty in novice company here last time. Arthington’s earlier success at Lingfield came in soft going and he was still 10 lengths behind the winner when runner-up at Fontwell last month while Royal Hall had won over a longer trip here before unseating early on back at the track in November. Distingo should do better dropping down in class today while Desiremoi D'Authie faces a tougher task after placing at Wincanton last month.
Distingo (IRE) 50-1 (11-2) Raced wide in mid-division, pushed along and some headway after 3 out, weakened before next, 12th of 14, 28 1/2l behind Al Dancer (11-8) at Ascot 2m hcp (1) gs in Feb.
Brandon Castle 10-11fav (11-11) Raced freely, led and soon clear, given breather 5th, pushed clear again before 2 out, kept on strongly, not fluent last, unchallenged, won at Plumpton 2m (4) gs in Jan beating Baddesley Prince (11-5) by 6l, 12 ran.
Arthington 7-2 (11-12) Tracked leaders in 4th, outpaced 3 out, rallied next, went 2nd approaching the last, kept on same pace run-in, no chance with winner, 2nd of 5, 10l behind Dream Du Grand Val (11-8) at Fontwell 2m 2f hcp (3) gs in Jan.
Royal Hall (FR) 6-5fav (11-4) Held up in 3rd, blundered and unseated rider 2nd, at Plumpton 2m 5f hcp (3) gd in Nov.
Desiremoi D'Authie (FR) 4-1jfav (11-11) Tracked leaders in 4th, led after 3 out, clear before 2 out, headed last, kept on same pace, 2nd of 15, 3l behind Texan Nomad (11-0) at Wincanton 1m 7f hcp (4) gd in Jan.
