tracked leader, led soon after 3 out, clear next, kept on strongly, very easily
raced keenly, held up in last pair, jumped slowly 2nd, lost touch before 4th, tailed off when mistake next
led, not fluent 3rd, headed and dropped to 3rd soon after 3 out, plugged on and went 2nd again towards finish, no chance with winner
chased leading pair, 2nd soon after 3 out until extended run before next, weakened quickly
held up in last pair, mistake 1st, headway tracking leaders before 3 out, went 2nd on extended run before next, soon ridden, kept on same pace, no chance with winner, lost 2nd towards finish
Llantara won twice on heavy going in the spring and will be all the better for a pipe-opener at Ludlow, where she was far from disgraced. Starcrossed has changed stables since last seen in August but Radical Archie is worth considering as he’s another mud-lover who returned from a break to score at Chepstow. Irish raider Alohamora has only run three times over hurdles and won at Catterick at the start of the year but THE GIPPER stayed on strongly to land a slightly better race that this at Lingfield last week and can defy his penalty.
The Gipper (IRE) 4-1 (10-12) Chased leaders, led 2 out, ran on well, won at Lingfield 2m hcp (3) hvy in Dec beating Oden (10-10) by 7l, 9 ran.
Starcrossed 11-2 (11-11) Tracked winner, ridden after 4 out, lost place when not fluent next, well held from 2 out, weakening when mistake last, 9th of 10, 26 1/4l behind Majestic Moll (11-11) at Worcester 2m 4f hcp (4) gd in Aug.
Radical Archie 12-1 (11-8) Tracked leader, hit 3rd, led 6th, driven when challenged 3 out, headed approaching next, soon rallied, led again last, stayed on gamely, won at Chepstow 2m 3f hcp (4) sft in Nov beating Rose Of Cimarron (11-1) by 1 1/4l, 17 ran.
Alohamora (IRE) 10-3 (10-10) Prominent, ridden approaching 2 out, edged left before last, stayed on same pace, 3rd of 10, 5l behind Shine Baby Shine (10-4) at Catterick 2m (4) sft in Mar.
Llantara 5-1 (10-8) Held up, closed 4 out, ridden after 2 out, not quicken flat, 3rd of 4, 3 1/4l behind Giveaway Glance (11-6) at Ludlow 2m hcp (2) gs in Dec.
