tracked leader on inside, led 3rd, made rest, went slightly left last, stayed on well run-in
never fluent in rear, mistake 4 out, not fluent and reminder after next, never a factor, tailed off
raced keenly tracking leaders, slightly hampered 2nd, tracked leading pair at 4th, pushed along and one pace between last two
tracked leading pair, hit 1st, went right and hampered rival next, hung left paddock bend soon after, lost place at 4th, rallied out wide chasing winner on long run before 2 out, every chance when hit 2 out, hanging right when went right and hampered last, one pace
led until jumped slowly and headed 3rd, lost 2nd on long run before 2 out, weakened quickly
Braveheart has had a wind operation since disappointing at Wincanton. Hidor De Bersy easily landed the odds at Fakenham on New Year’s Day but is penalised along with Monviel, who is not certain to confirm Wincanton running with Learntalot on revised terms. OPERATION MANNA hasn’t raced since overcoming trouble in-running to win a Worcester bumper in August but his trainer’s novices are always worth a second look here and the Champs Elysees gelding may have more natural speed than today’s rivals.
Monviel (IRE) 6-1 (11-6) Keen tracked leaders, ridden 2 out, led next, ran on, won at Wincanton 1m 7f mdn (4) gs in Jan beating Duke Of Rockingham (11-6) by 1 1/4l, 10 ran.
Braveheart (IRE) 7-2 (11-4) Led, not fluent 3 out, ridden and headed approaching 2 out, weakened thereafter, 13th of 18, dist behind Holly (10-11) at Wincanton 1m 7f mdn (4) gs in Dec.
Learntalot (IRE) 22-1 (11-6) In rear, ridden and headway approaching 2 out, kept on to go 4th run in, 4th of 10, 5 1/4l behind Monviel (11-6) at Wincanton 1m 7f mdn (4) gs in Jan.
Operation Manna 11-4 (11-0) Held up in touch, outpaced over 3f out, rallied over 1f out, switched left inside final furlong, led inside final 100 yards, stayed on, won at Worcester 2m (5) gd in Aug beating Fifrelet (11-7) by 1/2l, 9 ran.
Twilight Glory 6-1 (11-2) Chased leaders until after 2nd, outpaced next, towards rear and struggling 4th, plugged on and almost snatched moderate 3rd, 4th of 10, 27 3/4l behind Mayhem Mya (10-9) at Chepstow 2m (4) sft in Jan.
Hidor De Bersy (FR) 4-7fav (11-6) Made all, jumped well from 5th, heavily eased run in, won at Fakenham 2m mdn (4) sft in Jan beating River Tyne (10-13) by 1 1/2l, 9 ran.
