held up in touch, under pressure before 8th, headway to chase leaders 3 out, ran on after last, never nearer
set strong pace, hard pressed before 3 out, headed approaching next, soon lost place
settled in rear but in touch, headway 5 out, soon chasing leaders, led 2 out, headed and no extra towards finish
chased leaders, not fluent 4th and 5th, pushed along 5 out, soon beaten
tracked leader, mistake 5 out, soon lost place, rallied 2 out, stayed on approaching last, kept on under pressure
tracked leaders, driven and every chance approaching 3 out, led before next, soon headed, rallied after last, stayed on gamely to lead close home
Spirit Of Barbados had been in good form before a recent below-par run though he does look in the handicapper's grip now, while Gambo failed to complete last time having scored at Chepstow before that. Father Probus was winning for the first time when successful at Taunton recently and is up 7lb for his trouble, but FLOREAT looks capable of further progress. He went close when stepped up to 3m for the first time at Fakenham last month and it would be no surprise if he finds enough improvement to land today's contest off only a 2lb higher mark.
Teenage Kicks (IRE) 28-1 (11-7) Tracked leaders, ridden 5th, weakened 7th, pulled before 3 out, in a race won by Open Hearted (11-7) at Fakenham 2m 4f NH nov hdl (4-7yo) (3) gs in Feb, 12 ran.
Spirit Of Barbados (IRE) 8-1 (11-7) Led, headed after 3 out, weakened when eased before next, 12th of 16, well behind Off The Ground (11-10) at Sandown 2m 4f nov hcp hdl 0-120 (4) gs in Feb.
Gambo (IRE) 14-1 (10-0) Held up towards rear on outside, ridden and struggling 5th, pulled up before last, in a race won by Safran De Cotte (9-10) at Haydock 2m 4f hcp hdl (2) hvy in Dec, 13 ran.
Floreat 11-2 (11-7) Keen in touch in rear, headway 8th, tracked leaders after next, ridden and outpaced after 3 out, headway approaching last, stayed on to go 2nd near finish, 2nd of 9, 3/4l behind Grassfinch (11-5) at Fakenham 2m 7f nov hcp 0-115 (4) gs in Feb.
Father Probus 7-1 (11-3) Took keen hold, chased leader, led narrowly 5th, went left 3 out, not fluent next, came clear before last, kept on well, won at Taunton 3m nov hcp 0-115 (4) gd beating Briefcase (11-5) by 6l, 8 ran.
Thedeboftheyear 13-2 (11-7) Prominent, raced keenly, driven to challenge 2 out, kept on same pace approaching last, 3rd of 13, 12l behind Carrickmines (11-2) at Taunton 3m hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gd in Dec.
