tracked leader, eased into lead home turn, drew clear after 2 out, coasted home, not extended
chased leaders, went 2nd before 2 out, pushed along after 2 out, kept on but no chance with easy winner
in rear, tired jump 2 out and pulled up
led, bad mistake and blundered 3rd, shaken up and headed home turn, soon weakened tamely
rear mid-division, pushed along after 3 out, kept on same pace, never on terms
mid-division, headway into 4th after 3 out, ridden after 2 out, plugged on one pace
rear mid-division, never showed
chased leaders, ridden and gradually faded after 3 out
Father Of Jazz missed an engagement earlier in the week having undergone wind surgery since last in action and is also fitted with a tongue-tie. He looks best of Dan Skelton’s three runners but STRONG LEADER is the one to beat in this. The latter has won both starts over hurdles with the minimum of fuss including at Aintree last time and can defy a double penalty. Ballabawn has also undergone a wind operation having started favourite for both outings over timber so far but fading in the closing stages while Mammies Boy showed a big improvement at Taunton last time.
Strong Leader 2-1 (11-6) Always prominent, not fluent 5th, switched right and challenging when jumped left last, soon led, drew clear flat, stayed on strongly, won at Aintree 2m 1f (3) gs in Dec beating Etalon (11-0) by 8l, 9 ran.
Ballabawn (IRE) 13-8fav (11-4) Prominent, led 1st, faced challenge from 5th and went clear with one other, pushed along and headed after 3 out, soon well held, weakened run-in, 2nd of 11, 21l behind Crebilly (11-4) at Newcastle 2m mdn (4) gs in Dec.
Beraz (FR) 9-4jfav (10-12) Mid-division, not fluent 1st, headway after 5th, went 2nd 3 out, left in lead 2 out, headed last, hung left flat, weakened final 100 yards, 5th of 12, 7 1/4l behind Thunder Ahead (10-12) at Doncaster 2m 1f mdn (4) gd in Feb.
Father Of Jazz 13-2 (11-2) Raced keenly, held up towards rear, steady headway on inside approaching 3 out, switched left home turn and pushed along, weakened soon after, 7th of 10, dist behind Rare Edition (11-10) at Kempton 2m (2) sft in Dec.
Kash Tara 100-1 (11-10) Always in rear, tailed off, 8th of 11, dist behind Feel Good Inc (11-10) at Doncaster 2m 5f mdn (4) gs in Jan.
Mammies Boy (IRE) 9-1 (11-8) Off the pace in 4th, closer on inside after 3 out, went 2nd before next, kept on for clear 2nd but no chance with winner, 2nd of 9, 2l behind Afadil (10-9) at Taunton 2m mdn (4) sft in Jan.
Aurelia Fadilla Milan M out of Faustina Pius.
Maid Of The Night (IRE) 50-1 (10-7) Soon towards rear, never on terms, tailed off, 9th of 11, dist behind War Soldier (11-6) at Haydock 2m (3) sft in Dec.
My Portia 150-1 (10-11) Jumped right at times, prominent out wide, led after 2nd, headed 4th, hit 3 out and weakened quickly, 6th of 10, dist behind The Trader (11-4) at Southwell 2m mdn (4) gd in Dec.
Rainbow Jet (IRE) 50-1 (10-7) Raced keenly, towards rear, headway approaching 3 out, pushed along 2 out, kept on same pace, 6th of 17, 20 3/4l behind Quick Sharpener (11-0) at Wetherby 2m (4) sft in Dec.
