chased leaders, effort over 2f out, one pace until weakened inside final furlong
towards rear, driven and headway over 1f out, stayed on final furlong
started slowly, always behind
dwelt, towards rear, soon chased along, headway over 1f out, stayed on final furlong
soon outpaced, ridden along, headway over 1f out, ran on to lead inside final furlong, kept on gamely
never better than mid-division
led, ridden over 2f out, headed inside final furlong, no extra close home
chased leaders, driven over 1f out, one pace until weakened inside final furlong
chased leaders to halfway
This surface probably blunts Fast Freddie's natural pace and whilst he looks well-handicapped he is taken on with EFISTORM who is back in a 0-70 for the first time in ages. The selection has been given a two-and-a-half month break since his last start where he was fairly well-held in claiming company at the track. He has ten wins to his name, including off marks as high as 83 before. The stable are not in bad form and the booking of Chris Catlin catches the eye. Desperate Dan is another experienced gelding who knows how to win; Andy Haynes' inmate needs to improve on recent runs however and the handicapper is slow to give him much respite. Spic 'n Span won for Joe Fanning three starts back, whilst stablemate Back In The Red has been holding his form very well of late and his recent defeat behind Grimes Faith looks solid form. Figaro Flyer needs watching in the betting, whilst a drop in trip for This Ones For Eddy may not necessarily be the answer. A tricky race where very few can be ruled out, however narrow preference is for Efistorm.
Efistorm 4-1 (9-5) Prominent, ridden along halfway, driven over 1f, weakened final furlong, 6th of 14, 7l behind She's Our Beauty (8-2) at Southwell 5f clm (6) fbs in Dec.
Fast Freddie 25-1 (8-12) Tracked leaders, ridden to chase leaders over 2f out, weakened over 1f out, 9th of 10, 8l behind Gwilym (8-7) at W'hampton 5f hcp 0-75 (5) pol in Jan.
Figaro Flyer (IRE) 7-1 (8-13) Slowly into stride, in rear, ridden on outside over 2f out, stayed on, not reached leaders, 3rd of 10, 1l behind Gwilym (8-7) at W'hampton 5f hcp 0-75 (5) pol in Jan.
Desperate Dan 17-2 (8-5) Chased leaders, ridden along halfway, one pace final furlong, 3rd of 6, 8l behind Harry Up (9-1) at W'hampton 5f clm (6) pol in Jan.
This Ones For Eddy 9-2 (9-4) Held up in rear, headway 1f out, soon ridden, kept on same pace, 4th of 11, 3l behind Balata (8-13) at W'hampton 7f hcp 0-70 (5) pol in Dec.
Back In The Red (IRE) 2-1fav (8-13) In touch, led after 1f, headed well over 1f out, driven and kept on same pace final furlong, 3rd of 4, 1 1/2l behind Grimes Faith (8-9) at Southwell 5f clm (6) fbs.
Replicator 10-1 (9-0) Chased leaders, ridden halfway, soon weakened, last of 11, 13l behind Billy Red (8-8) at Great Leighs 6f hcp 0-70 (5) pol in Jan.
Spic 'n Span 8-1 (9-4) In touch, ridden along halfway, weakened final furlong, 9th of 11, 6l behind The Geester (8-9) at Southwell 5f hcp 0-65 (6) fbs in Jan.
Cheshire Rose 50-1 (8-13) Outpaced, soon ridden along, driven over 1f out, stayed on final furlong, 5th of 11, 2 1/2l behind The Geester (8-9) at Southwell 5f hcp 0-65 (6) fbs in Jan.
Mandelieu (IRE) 40-1 (9-4) Prominent, ridden over 2f out, weakened entering final furlong, 8th of 12, 12l behind Doubtful Sound (9-2) at W'hampton 6f clm (6) pol in Oct.
