led, well clear after 2nd, 15 lengths ahead 4 out, reduced lead soon after next, joined 2 out, narrowly headed last, rallied gamely, just failed
chased clear leader, close up soon after 3 out, every chance 2 out, weakened into 3rd and blundered last
prominent in chasing group, closed up soon after 3 out, led and hit last, hard driven flat, just held on, all out
prominent until mistake and lost place 4th, mid-division after, tailed off 3 out
close up in chasing group, weakened 4 out, tailed off
mistakes in rear, made some late headway, never in contention
mid-division, headway to chase leaders 3 out, weakened before next, well beaten in 4th when fell last
never reached beyond mid-division, tailed off
reminders before 3rd, always in rear, tailed off
not fluent in rear, stayed on approaching 2 out, never in contention, tailed off, left poor 4th last
prominent in chasing group, weakened before 2 out
WHISTLEJACQUET has done nothing wrong to date and is taken to see off strong challenges from Sir Kezbaah, Shinrock Hill and King's Legacy. The selection was well-fancied on his hurdling debut at the track and duly obliged with a cosy success. His jumping in the main was good and with further improvement to come he can carry his penalty to victory. Also penalised is Sir Kezbaah who was a ready Lingfield winner in January, and he has already run well in defeat under a penalty, whilst King's Legacy looks a big player on his hurdling bow. He triumphed in a Kempton bumper a year ago, and whilst the form doesn't look anything out of the ordinary, there could be untold improvement now tackling hurdles (comes from the family of Hors La Lois III). Robbers Bridge will be eligible for handicaps after this run, Shinrock Hill is a former point-to-point winner and he should have learnt plenty from a Southwell run last month although this trip will be sharp enough, whilst Southerness has run some good races in defeat this year and may sneak a place. Newcomer Sarika is an interesting recruit from France and the yard has thrived with similar horses. However the story has been with all of them that there is massive improvement from first to second runs and therefore today may not be the day. An interesting finale then, where Whistlejacquet gets the nod.
Sir Kezbaah (IRE) 4-1 (10-10) Tracked leaders, pushed along to chase winner approaching 3 out, challenged and every chance last, switched left and ridden flat, kept on towards finish, 2nd of 10, 1l behind Cabinet Minister (11-12) at Exeter 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-125 (3) gs in Feb.
Whistlejacquet 13-8fav (11-3) Held up in mid-division, headway approaching 6th, ridden after 3 out, disputing 2nd from 2 out, led flat, stayed on well, won at Taunton 2m 1f nh nov hdl (4) gs in Feb beating Haarth Sovereign (11-3) by 1 1/4l, 12 ran.
King's Legacy (IRE) 6-5fav (11-2) Soon pressed leader, led over 9f out, hard ridden final furlong, kept on well, won at Kempton 2m NH flat (4) gs in Feb '09 beating Ballybach (11-2) by 1/2l, 8 ran.
Ninogaro (FR) 100-1 (10-7) Behind, struggling 4 out, tailed off when pulled up before next, in a race won by Horsford (10-12) at Chepstow 2m 4f nov hdl (4) hvy in Jan, 12 ran.
Not Another Barney (IRE) 12-1 (12-0) (cp) led 2-6; wknd 11; to & pu 2 out, in a race won by Fairly Glorious (12-0) at Lower Machen 3m ptp gf in May, 11 ran.
Robbers Bridge (IRE) 28-1 (11-2) Always towards rear, struggling 6th, tailed off, 11th of 13, 39l behind Sanctuaire (10-7) at Taunton 2m 1f nov hdl (4) sft in Feb.
Shinrock Hill (IRE) 12-1 (11-1) Held up mid-division, headway on inner 4th, led next, headed approaching 2 out, weakened soon after, 7th of 13, 42l behind Flaming Charlie (11-4) at Southwell 3m mdn hdl (4) gs in Feb.
Southerness 9-1 (10-13) Held up, chased leaders after 3 out, led approaching 2 out, headed going to last, weakened flat, 4th of 8, 6l behind Johnny Mullen (10-9) at Wincanton 2m nh nov hdl (3) hvy in Feb.
Canshebemine 25-1 (10-2) Chased leaders, lost place after 5th, outpaced 3 out, kept on under pressure from next, no impression, 3rd of 6, 20l behind Brigadore (10-7) at Taunton 2m 3f sell hdl (5) sft in Dec.
Silver Emblem 200-1 (11-0) Led, headed after 3 out, soon weakened, pulled up before 2 out, in a race won by Topsham Belle (11-6) at Wincanton 2m 6f mrs nov hdl (4) hvy in Feb, 7 ran.
Raspbary 33-1 (10-0) Took keen hold, chased leaders until weakened over 4f out, tailed off, 10th of 13, well behind Dragon's Roost (11-4) at Newbury 2m NH flat (6) sft in Jan.
Sarika (FR) Grand Tresor gelding out of Arika.
