tracked leaders, not fluent 2nd, led 8th, headed after 4 out, mistake 3 out, no extra last
led until 8th, led after 4 out, headed next, no impression on winner 2 out, lost 2nd post
held up, headway approaching 5th, led and jumped left from 3 out, clear next, ridden out
tracked leaders on inside, pushed along 7th, no impression on winner 2 out, pressing for 2nd last, weakened flat
took keen hold, tracked leader, not fluent 4th, outpaced after 4 out, edged left and no extra before last
held up, not fluent 1st, headway after 4 out, outpaced after next, stayed on flat, went 2nd post, no impression on winner
in rear, hit 1st, behind from 3rd
Herons Heir needs to be produced late and isn’t the best of jumpers. But he has a chance on these terms and so does Blandfords Gunner, who has had just the one run this season and is back over his winning distance. Roxyfet is back on a winning mark but out of sorts and time may be catching up with Lightening Rod. MISTER SPINGSPRONG (NAP) was a bit ring-rusty at Ascot last month but it was a still a pleasing first run of the campaign. He’s shown more than enough over fences to suggest he’s capable of winning a race like this. Boss Des Mottes and Trust Thomas look exposed off their current marks.
Blandfords Gunner 7-2fav (11-9) Tracked leader, blundered 5 out, blundered 3 out, weakened from 2 out, 4th of 10, 14 1/2l behind Wells De Lune (11-10) at Wetherby 2m 3f hcp (3) gs in Nov.
Mister Spingsprong (IRE) 9-2 (11-0) Mistakes, mistake 1st, chased leading trio until 8th, remained handy 5th, blundered 4 out, ridden before 2 out, driven disputing 4th and one pace between last two, plugged on from last, 4th of 7, 6 3/4l behind Red Devil Star (10-8) at Ascot 2m 1f hcp (3) gs in Dec.
Herons Heir (IRE) 3-1 (11-12) In rear, headway before 7 out, ridden before last, kept on same pace, 3rd of 6, 9 1/2l behind Sir Note (11-9) at Leicester 2m hcp (3) gf in Dec.
Trust Thomas 12-1 (12-0) Mid-division, pushed along before 4 out, went 3rd before 2 out, ridden before last, one pace, 5th of 10, 23l behind Rosquero (10-8) at Kelso 2m 1f hcp (4) gs in Dec.
Boss Des Mottes (FR) 7-2 (11-12) Tracked winner, mistake 8th, blundered and lost 2nd next, chased leaders, weakened before 3 out, 5th of 7, 21 3/4l behind Groomed (10-11) at Newcastle 2m hcp (4) sft in Dec.
Lightening Rod 9-2 (11-11) Raced wide towards rear, ridden 3 out, weakening when hit 2 out, 5th of 8, 18 1/4l behind Perseid (11-3) at Sedgefield 2m 1f hcp (4) gs in Dec.
Roxyfet (FR) 33-1 (10-9) In rear, struggling 4 out, never near leaders, 6th of 7, 12l behind A Little Magic (11-5) at Catterick 2m hcp (3) gd in Jan.
