always behind, pulled up quickly and dismounted 4th
mid-division, headway and chased leader approaching 3 out, went 2nd and stumbled 2 out, hit last, drifted right flat, no chance with winner
mid-division, headway after 3 out, weakened 2 out
prominent, chased leader and ridden after 3 out, weakened 2 out
led to 1st, led approaching 4th, ridden approaching 6th, headed after 8th, soon weakened, pulled up before 2 out
held up in touch, weakened 5th, pulled up after 6th
held up in mid-division, weakened 6th, pulled up after 7th
chased leader, led 1st to approaching 4th, ridden 3 out, weakened 2 out
held up in touch, good headway approaching 7th, weakened 3 out
mid-division, weakened 8th, tailed off and pulled up before 2 out
prominent, chased leaders, going well after 3 out, challenged and led on bit 2 out, ridden and soon drifted left, driven clear from last
always towards rear, ridden 7th, soon behind and pulled up before 2 out
pulled hard in mid-division, headway to lead 8th, ridden and headed 2 out, no extra
Manawanui finally fulfilled earlier promise when running out the easy winner of a Plumpton handicap last time and is taken to defy his 7lb penalty and score at the main expense of Campaign Charlie and Penny Park. The last mentioned is less exposed than most of these and hails from the yard of Philip Hobbs that has had plenty of success of late so has to be respected. Recent Chepstow selling handicap winner Sou'wester has a nice racing weight and is another to consider along with the Paul Nicholls-trained Azzemour, although he seems to have struggled since being switched into handicap races. Pure Magic has gone up 6lbs for his win last time which looks fair but that was against novices and it remains to be seen how effective he will be against more experienced rivals today. Bright Green has claims on the pick of his form but could probably do with some help from the handicapper and of more interest may be Henry Daly's lightly raced Campaign Charlie, who looks to be on a fair mark. Manawanui won with plenty in hand at Plumpton though and he gets the vote to follow up.
Manawanui 7-1 (11-2) Tracked leaders challenged and led well before 2 out, driven out, won at Plumpton 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gs beating Mistified (10-9) by 3 1/2l, 13 ran.
Bright Green 9-1 (9-10) Towards rear when hampered by loose horse and unseated rider at the 4th in race won by Jockser (10-0) at Chepstow 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-125 (3) gs, 17 ran.
Azzemour (FR) 7-1 (11-1) Held up towards rear, headway 7th, ridden to chase leaders 3 out, weakened last, 5th of 13, 15l behind Squantum (10-8) at Taunton 3m hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gd in Jan.
Cockatoo Ridge 10-1 (9-11) Tracked leader, led after 4th, ridden and headed 4 out, weakened 3 out, 7th of 17, 28l behind Jockser (10-0) at Chepstow 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-125 (3) gs.
Optimistic Alfie 25-1 (11-5) Tracked leaders, ridden 5th, weakened next, losing positions when hampered 3 out, 11th of 19, well behind Pure Magic (10-1) at Wincanton 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-100 (4) sft in Feb.
Pure Magic (FR) 12-1 (10-3) Made all, edged left approaching 2 out, edged left again flat, ran on, won at Ludlow 2m 5f nov hcp hdl 0-115 (3) gf beating Dearson (11-12) by 3 1/2l, 8 ran.
Sou'wester 9-1 (10-12) In touch closer order 7th, led on bit 4 out, easily, won at Chepstow 2m 4f sll hcp hdl 0-90 (5) gs beating Yaiyna Tango (11-5) by 10l, 18 ran.
Campaign Charlie 11-1 (10-12) In touch, chaseds leader 6th, led approaching 2 out, headed flat, kept on, 2nd of 6, 1/2l behind Oscatello (11-4) at Market Rasen 2m 3f cnd nov hdl (4) hvy in Mar.
