led, joined 9th, headed approaching 3 out, weakened before next
chased leader, challenged 9th, led approaching 3 out, came clear before next, readily
held up last, jumped slowly 5th and lost ground, pushed along and outpaced 7th, headway to 3rd 3 out, went 2nd before next, no chance with winner, weakened to 3rd final 100 yards
chased leaders, ridden and outpaced after 4 out, weakened before next
chased leaders, not fluent 3rd, driven after 4 out, outpaced and mistake 3 out, rallied to modest 3rd next, stayed on to 2nd final 100 yards, no chance with winner
Back-to-back wins at Folkestone and Plumpton mean that AMAURY DE LUSIGNAN has shot up the weights but he appears to be improving at a rate of knots and jumps particularly well considering his inexperience. A hat-trick beckons as Quipe Me Posted looks held on the book and Baseball Ted returns from a break and is now tried in blinkers. The ground is an unknown for Novikov, though he should progress from a recent C&D fourth, so last year's winner Owner Occupier is the probable danger as he races off the same mark this time around, though was a long way behind the selection in January.
Baseball Ted (IRE) 5-1 (11-12) Several slow jumps, led after 1st, slow and headed 2nd (water), led again 4th, headed before ommited 4 out, weakened next, tailed off, last of 7, 42l behind Renard (11-12) at Exeter 2m 1f hcp chs 0-125 (3) gs in Nov.
Amaury De Lusignan (IRE) 15-8fav (11-12) Jumped well, tracked leader, challenged 6th, led 8th, travelling well after 3 out, came clear from next, heavily eased towards finish, won at Plumpton 2m 1f hcp chs 0-115 (4) gs in Feb beating Hellfire Club (11-12) by 16l, 6 ran.
Novikov 11-1 (11-3) Held up, headway 7th, blundered next, hampered and left 2nd next until approaching 3 out, weakened before next, tailed off, 4th of 6, well behind Song Sung Blue (11-12) at Sandown 2m hcp chs 0-130 (3) gd in Feb.
Quipe Me Posted (FR) 7-1 (11-5) Chased leading trio, went 3rd 5th, ridden and not on terms with leading duo 3 out, 3rd of 6, 25l behind Amaury De Lusignan (11-12) at Plumpton 2m 1f hcp chs 0-115 (4) gs in Feb.
Owner Occupier 16-1 (10-11) Chased leader until after 2nd, chased leaders, weakened 7th, left modest 3rd 2 out, 3rd of 11, 18l behind Dream Again Boys (11-1) at Lingfield 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gs in Feb.