close up, tracked leaders 4 out, ridden next, kept on same pace
pressed winner, ridden 3 out, kept on one pace
close up, ridden 3 out, weakened approaching last
close up, headway 4 out when mistake and unseated rider
made all, ridden 2 out, ran on
in touch in rear, ridden 3 out, went 4th at last, not trouble leaders
Fransham beat Cornerstone Lad when scoring over track and trip last month and can go well again raised 3lb. Nuts Well could only manage fifth upped in trip at Aintree having won at Kelso before that but it could be the turn of CHEDDLETON (NAP) today. The latter found the progressive Editeur Du Gite too good at Cheltenham last time but looks capable of scoring off his current mark on that form and Jennie Candlish’s charge gets the vote. Eclair D'Ainay can do better back on soft going for this while Katpoli has undergone a wind operation since last in action.
Nuts Well 8-1 (11-9) Soon chasing leaders on outside, lost a bit of ground after 8th, outpaced 3 out, headway approaching last, no impression, lost 4th towards finish, 5th of 8, 5 1/2l behind Allmankind (11-10) at Aintree 2m 4f hcp (1) gd in Oct.
Cheddleton 11-2 (11-9) Tracked leaders, ridden after 3 out, chased winner from 2 out, stayed on well but never got on terms, 2nd of 8, 4l behind Editeur Du Gite (11-7) at Cheltenham 2m hcp (2) gs in Dec.
Cornerstone Lad 7-2 (11-8) Disputed 2nd, slow 8th, led 4 out, headed narrowly and badly hampered next and nearly fell, lost all chance, eased, last of 4, 29l behind Pay The Piper (11-3) at Newcastle 2m hcp (3) gs in Dec.
Fransham 6-5fav (10-11) Chased leader, headway to lead 3 out when travelling well, headed briefly before last, kept on well to assert final 100 yards, won at Wetherby 1m 7f hcp (3) gs in Nov beating Cornerstone Lad (11-8) by 3 3/4l, 3 ran.
Eclair D'Ainay (FR) 8-1 (11-3) Chased leaders early, raced in mid-division after 3rd, lost ground before 7th, pulled up before 9th, at Newbury 2m hcp (2) gs in Nov.
Katpoli (FR) 14-1 (10-2) Mid-division, mistake and unseated rider 4 out, at Cheltenham 2m hcp (2) gd in Oct.