led, headed before 2nd, tracked leaders in 3rd, led before 3 out, kept on well from last
held up towards rear, headway 3 out to go 3rd, kept on from last
led before 2nd, took keen hold, headed 4th, weakened after 4 out, in rear and tailed off, pulled up before 2 out
in rear, headway before 3 out, one pace and no impression
tracked leader, led 4th, headed before 3 out, soon weakened
tracked leaders in 4th, went 2nd before 3 out, ridden and every chance last, kept on from last, no chance with winner
in rear, headway before 3 out, weakened before last
John Ferguson had three recent winners entered in this and relies on FENNELL BAY, eight times a winner on the Flat and a very impressive winner of a maiden at Fakenham on his hurdling bow. He has several entries at Cheltenham and should boost his prospects here. Plan Again cost £75,000 at the sales after landing a point-to-point by 15 lengths in 2012 then won a bumper here for new connections. He was an impressive winner on his hurdling debut at Kelso in October and looks another smart prospect. Martin Chuzzlewit was a decent staying handicapper on the Flat and looks just the type to do well over hurdles while Ollie G has shown some promise in bumpers but Politeness was very disappointing in his two starts over timber in the autumn.
Fennell Bay (IRE) 11-8fav (11-2) Tracked leaders, led after 2 out, soon clear, easily, won at Fakenham 2m mdn hdl (5) sft in Jan beating Cappielow Park (10-12) by 14l, 11 ran.
Plan Again (IRE) Evensfav (11-0) Tracked leaders, took keen hold, went 2nd before 4 out, led 2 out, easily, won at Kelso 2m NH mdn hdl (5) gs in Oct beating Bernardelli (11-0) by 6l, 10 ran.
Apache Pilot 150-1 (10-9) Went left and not fluent 1st, keen early, tracked leaders, lost place after 5th, behind from 7th, tailed off when pulled up after 4 out, in a race won by Red Sherlock (11-8) at Wetherby 2m 4f NH nov hdl (4-7yo) (4) sft in Jan, 6 ran.
Elfego Baca (IRE) 9-4 (10-12) Tracked leader, challenged over 4f out, outpaced over 2f out, weakened inside final furlong, 5th of 6, 15l behind Coozan George (11-5) at Musselburgh 2m NH flat (6) sft in Jan.
Martin Chuzzlewit (IRE) 12-1 (8-12) Led, ridden and headed 3f out, no impression over 1f out, 12th of 18, 5l behind Lahaag (9-9) at York 1m 4f hcp 0-100 (2) gd in Oct (flat).
Ollie G 5-1 (11-2) Tracked leaders, driven to chase leading pair over 4f out, ridden over 2f out, stayed on to take 2nd over 1f out, no chance with winner, 2nd of 7, 11l behind Wilcos Mo Chara (11-2) at Musselburgh 2m mdn NH flat (5) gd in Nov.
Politeness (FR) 12-1 (10-12) Held up mid-division, went remote 4th before last, soon weakened, 7th of 10, well behind Milo Man (10-12) at Carlisle 2m 1f nh nov hdl (4) hvy in Nov.
