in touch on outside, lost place when mistake 3 out, soon behind
led, not fluent 7th, headed before 2 out, stayed on same pace and edged left flat
2nd or 3rd, pushed along after 7th, weakened after 3 out
held up in rear, headway going well 3 out, 2nd 2 out until mistake last, no extra flat
raced keenly, 2nd or 3rd, led before 2 out, clear flat, stayed on
tracked leaders, jumped slowly and lost place 1st, ridden and weakened after 3 out
held up, headway after 7th, ridden after 3 out, went 2nd last, no impression on winner flat
held up in rear, pushed along after 7th, went 5th before 2 out, unable to trouble leaders
Nicky Henderson runs two in this and Nico de Boinville prefers hurdling debutant Malachite, who showed promise in bumpers, ahead of Southwell second Rebel Commander but the one to beat is VOIE DANS VOIE. Alan King’s charge is more exposed than some but came up against a decent novice last time at Towcester. Fawsley Spirit ran well for a long way behind a subsequent winner at Towcester so can’t be ignored but the mare Ebonys Encore looks a chaser in the making.
Farmer Boy (IRE) 66-1 (11-2) Not fluent, held up in rear, jumped right 1st, ridden after 3 out, well beaten before 2 out, went 4th after last, 4th of 6, 21 3/4l behind Dan Mcgrue (11-8) at Taunton 2m 3f (4) sft in Jan.
Fawsley Spirit (IRE) 25-1 (11-5) Prominent, led 4th, headed next, every chance 3 out, 3rd and no extra last, 3rd of 12, 14 1/4l behind Fleminport (11-5) at Hereford 2m 6f mdn (4) sft in Jan.
Little Allstar (IRE) 66-1 (11-5) Led until 4th, lost place before 2 out, 7th of 12, 32 3/4l behind Fleminport (11-5) at Hereford 2m 6f mdn (4) sft in Jan.
Lough Ryn (IRE) 2-1fav (10-12) Led early, tracked leader, ridden over 2f out, soon weakened, 8th of 10, 34 1/4l behind I'm To Blame (10-12) at Catterick 2m (6) gs in Nov.
Malachite 3-1fav (11-0) Tracked leaders, 2nd 4f out until over 2f out, no extra inside final furlong, 5th of 14, 12l behind The Big Bite (11-7) at Huntingdon 2m (6) gs in Dec.
Rebel Commander (IRE) 8-1 (10-12) Tracked leader, led approaching 2f out, ridden over 1f out, headed inside final furlong, no extra, 2nd of 9, 4 1/2l behind Two For Gold (10-12) at Southwell 2m (5) gd in Dec.
Voie Dans Voie (FR) 7-4 (11-4) Prominent, went 2nd 4 out, ridden before last, kept on same pace, 2nd of 9, 6l behind Dr Des (11-10) at Towcester 2m 3f (4) sft in Feb.
Touch Of Velvett 66-1 (10-12) Mid-division on outside, 6th 3 out, closed next, soon weakened, 5th of 11, 37l behind Rock My Style (11-5) at Hereford 2m 4f mdn (5) sft in Jan.
Ebonys Encore (IRE) 11-2 (10-10) Took keen hold, chased leaders on inside, weakened before 3 out, tailed off, 7th of 10, dist behind Drops Of Jupitor (10-10) at Exeter 2m 3f (4) sft in Dec.
