raced keenly, made all, hit 2nd and next, hit 3 out, pushed clear before 2 out, ridden and kept on strongly run-in
raced keenly, tracked winner, pushed along and one pace before 2 out, plugged on run-in
held up in last pair, went modest 4th 4 out, one pace and no impression from next
took keen hold, held up last, jumped slowly 4th, pushed along and struggling after next
keen, tracked leading pair, hit 3rd, pushed along and outpaced after 3 out
held up tracking leading trio until 4 out, soon struggling, weakened after 3 out
After a length second to Charli Parcs, an impressive winner here last month, POKER PLAY beat a couple of previous winners at Enghien. On that evidence, David Pipe’s recent acquisition may have too much for narrow Catterick winner Fidux off level terms. The Otmoor Poet made mistakes and was keen when third in a Bangor maiden so may be capable of better but Masterson looks very ordinary and fellow Flat winner Totally Committed is best watched tackling hurdles for the first time.
Fidux (FR) 9-4fav (10-12) Tracked leaders, not fluent 4th, led 2 out, headed flat, rallied to lead again post, won at Catterick 2m (4) gd in Nov beating Walsingham Grange (10-12) by shd, 9 ran.
Poker Play (FR) (10-12) won at Enghien 2m 1f hvy in Nov beating Long Breeze (10-12) by 4 1/2l, 7 ran.
Masterson (IRE) 12-1 (10-12) Tracked leaders, led 3rd, headed before 2 out, ridden before last, weakened run-in, 4th of 7, 31l behind Rainbow Dreamer (11-5) at Fontwell 2m 2f (4) gs in Dec.
Premier Currency (IRE) 12-1 (9-1) Tracked leader until ridden 2f out, weakened final furlong, 7th of 12, 9 3/4l behind Candesta (9-4) at Chelmsford City 1m hcp (6) pol in Dec.
The Otmoor Poet 11-10fav (10-12) Led after 1st, took keen hold, mistake 4th, mistake 2 out, soon headed, no extra closing stages and lost 2nd close home, 3rd of 5, 5 1/2l behind Tasty Ginger (10-12) at Bangor 2m 1f mdn (4) gs in Nov.
Totally Committed 10-3 (9-3) Keen, held up towards rear, veered sharply right over 2f out, hung right after, switched left over 1f out, modest 4th well inside final furlong, 4th of 9, 6 1/4l behind Al Nasser Alwashik (9-2) at Leicester 1m 2f hcp (5) gd in Oct.
