raced wide tracked leader, led bend approaching last, pushed out, comfortable
led, jumped right 1st, ridden and headed bend approaching last, kept on one pace
tracked leaders, pushed along 3 out, ridden 2 out, soon outpaced
close up in rear, pushed along 3 out, soon outpaced
Shang Tang is the most exposed but he has been quite highly tried since the turn of the year. GERICAULT ROQUE appears to have something to find on the form book but looked a really nice prospect when beating an odds-on favourite on his hurdling debut at Plumpton. That form has yet to be franked but his yard is in cracking form and he’ll relish the longer trip here so could upset likely favourite Captain Morgs, who won at Ascot in the autumn but still looked green when failing to land the odds at Kempton later.
Shang Tang (IRE) 28-1 (11-1) Held up towards rear, good headway out wide chasing leaders before 3 out, close 2nd next, soon ridden, well held when mistake and weakened last, 5th of 12, 19 1/4l behind The Cob (10-12) at Doncaster 3m (1) sft in Jan.
Captain Morgs (IRE) 5-6fav (11-4) Raced keenly early, tracked winner throughout, pushed along approaching and hit 2 out, ridden and unable to quicken between last 2, went left approaching last, hung badly left and stayed on run-in, 2nd of 3, 1l behind Ajero (11-4) at Kempton 2m (4) gd in Nov.
Gericault Roque (FR) 7-2 (11-5) Held up in mid-division on inside, headway tracking leaders 3rd, pushed along before 2 out, went 2nd run-in, stayed on under pressure to lead towards finish, won at Plumpton 2m mdn (4) sft in Jan beating Natural History (11-5) by 1/2l, 11 ran.
Alfoski (IRE) 80-1 (11-6) Soon towards rear, ridden and struggling after 4 out, pulled up before next, at Doncaster 2m 5f mdn (5) gs in Jan.
