with leader, led from 1st, headed 8th, tracked leader, led 12th, headed next, a close 2nd when fell 4 out
led to 1st, tracked leader, led 8th, headed 12th, led again 13th, left clear 4 out, ridden and headed before last, kept on
in rear, struggling from 6th, tailed off 10th, pulled up
tracked leaders in 3rd, mistake 10th, ridden before 3 out, soon weakened, in 3rd when fell last
tracked leaders in 4th, pushed along before 4 out, soon left 2nd, led before last, kept on
Toby Lerone has been busy lately and may be due a rest after his latest fourth at Kempton. Bertie Boru never got involved behind Hansupfordetroit at Chepstow and it's difficult to see him turning the tables here, though the winner has 7lb more to carry and was treading water in the closing stages. Wilton Milan was pulled up on his fencing bow and this may be another fact-finding mission while Towcester fifth Bathwick Brave may also need more experience. FLAMING CHARMER has yet to prove he truly stays this far but he handles heavy going, which is a major plus. He could be the answer here if Brendan Powell can conserve his stamina in the early stages.
Wilton Milan (IRE) 8-1 (11-5) Pressed leader, led 10th, hit 12th, narrow advantage when blundered and sprawled 5 out, not recover and pulled up, in a race won by Samingarry (10-6) at Chepstow 3m (3) gs in Dec, 7 ran.
Hansupfordetroit (IRE) 7-2 (11-0) Made all, ran slightly wide on stable bend after 7th, jumped right 2 out, ridden out, won at Chepstow 3m nov hcp chs 0-125 (3) hvy in Dec beating Seven Woods (11-5) by 1 1/2l, 6 ran.
Bathwick Brave (IRE) 9-1 (11-0) Held up, headway 8th, close up 3 out, soon ridden and beaten, weakened before last, 5th of 7, 27l behind Baby Shine (10-7) at Towcester 2m 6f beg chs (4) hvy in Dec.
Flaming Charmer (IRE) 11-2 (10-10) Tracked leaders, not fluent 9th, pushed along outpaced and no chance after 8th, kept on to 3rd run in, 3rd of 5, 33l behind Valdez (11-5) at Newbury 2m 1f (3) gd in Nov.
Bertie Boru (IRE) 9-2 (11-3) Held up in last, pecked 11th, headway when not fluent 13th, outpaced 5 out, mistake 4 out, well held next, 4th of 6, 30l behind Hansupfordetroit (11-0) at Chepstow 3m nov hcp chs 0-125 (3) hvy in Dec.
Toby Lerone (IRE) 11-2 (11-1) Led until 2nd, chased leader until 9th, led 11th until next, chased leaders, led again 4 out, joined 3 out, headed well before next, weakened 2 out, 4th of 9, 21l behind King Edmund (11-12) at Kempton 2m 4f hcp chs 0-135 (3) sft.
