Santo Thomas' third at Bangor was a much-improved effort but the handicapper has done the top weight no favours. Whistling Senator and Zouti could both do better now tackling handicaps but the four-year-old Lady Bridget has shown nothing so far while Marie Deja La and Snow Patrol are thoroughly exposed. TUSCANY STAR is also a long-standing maiden under Rules but Jim Best has done well with similar types in the past and the gelding's latest C&D second looks the best form on offer in this.
Santo Thomas (FR) 16-1 (10-6) Held up mid-division, headway before 5th, went 3rd from 2 out, kept on from last, 3rd of 10, 1 3/4l behind Share Option (11-2) at Bangor 2m 1f hcp hdl (5) gs in Dec.
Whistling Senator (IRE) 200-1 (10-5) Held up mid-division, went 5th before 2 out, soon ridden and weakened, 5th of 14, 35l behind Magnifique Etoile (11-0) at Bangor 2m 1f nov hdl (4) gs in Dec.
Marie Deja La (FR) 33-1 (10-11) Prominent, ridden when not fluent 4 out, well held from next, left 3rd last, 3rd of 10, 9l behind Dirty Deal (11-10) at Chepstow 2m Mares Handicap Hurdle (0-100) (4yo+) (5) hvy in Jan.
Black Cache (IRE) 100-1 (11-5) Held up mid-division, weakened after 3 out, 8th of 12, well behind Oscar Nominee (11-2) at Southwell 2m NH mdn hdl (5) gs in Jan.
Tuscany Star (IRE) 8-1 (10-9) Led, clear 2nd until long run to last, soon ridden, headed before last, readily held but kept on under pressure flat, 2nd of 7, 4l behind Mujamead (11-0) at Folkestone 2m 1f cnd hcp hdl 0-95 (5) sft in Jan.
Zouti (FR) 66-1 (10-2) Chasing leaders when stumbled badly 1st, lost place and towards rear after next, never on terms after, tailed off, 8th of 13, well behind Ashbrittle (11-2) at Lingfield 2m mdn hdl (5) hvy in Jan.
Snow Patrol 40-1 (11-0) Tracked leaders, ridden over 3f out, weakened over 2f out, 6th of 7, 19l behind Oscar Whisky (11-0) at Kempton 2m n h flat (6) std.
Lady Bridget 28-1 (10-2) Chased leading pair, ridden and lost modest 3rd after 5th, plugged on flat, 5th of 6, 41l behind One Lucky Lady (10-5) at Folkestone 2m 1f 4yo mdn hdl (4) sft in Jan.
Duffy Moon 10-1 (9-6) Tracked leaders and keen, weakened before 3 out, pulled up before 2 out, in a race won by Spot The Ball (10-13) at Southwell 3m cnd hcp hdl 0-95 (5) gs in Jan, 13 ran.
