tracked leader, mistakes 4 out and 3 out, soon weakened
chased leaders, jumped right 3rd and 4th, led before and jumped right 2 out, stayed on well
led, hit 4th and 6th, headed approaching 2 out, weakened
tracked leaders, slow 1st, soon in rear, headway 5 out, outpaced next, stayed on into 2nd after last, no chance with winner
held up in touch, headway into 3rd after 5 out, driven to challenge after next, not fluent last, faded flat
Withdrawn
Ubaltique is a law unto himself nowadays but likes it here and won this in 2017, though got no further than the first 12 months ago. Rose Sea Has pulled hard but bolted up at Sedgefield last month when JOKE DANCER was a spent force when falling at the last. Sue Smith’s gelding is much better than that, however and is now 9lb better off. Sir Egbert can’t be ignored back over the larger obstacles while Chambard has finished second in both starts over fences, though didn’t threaten the winner on either occasion. Musical Slave has disappointed so far in his chasing career.
Rose Sea Has (FR) 9-2 (10-12) Took keen hold and raced wide, prominent, led 5th, clear next, mistake 3 out, ridden out, won at Sedgefield 2m hcp (3) sft in Nov beating Tonto's Spirit (11-13) by 5l, 6 ran.
Joke Dancer 5-2 (11-7) Jumped right at times, chased leaders, dived at 3rd, lost place before 6th, weakened 3 out, fell last, at Sedgefield 2m hcp (3) sft in Nov.
Sir Egbert 11-10fav (11-12) Led, headed when not fluent 3 out, soon outpaced, rallied approaching last, kept on well under pressure, 2nd of 6, 1 1/2l behind Poucor (11-1) at Plumpton 2m hcp (3) hvy in Nov.
Chambard (FR) 9-4fav (11-4) Held up towards rear, headway before 4 out, went 3rd from last, kept on to take 2nd place run-in, no chance with winner, 2nd of 8, 12l behind Boldmere (11-1) at Leicester 2m 4f hcp (3) gs in Dec.
Ubaltique (FR) 15-2 (10-4) In touch, not fluent 2nd, ridden and weakened 4 out, last of 5, dist behind Nuts Well (11-2) at Wetherby 1m 7f hcp (3) sft in Dec.
Musical Slave (IRE) 8-1 (11-6) Held up in rear, beaten 5 out, tailed off, 8th of 9, dist behind Baddesley Knight (11-6) at Wincanton 2m hcp (3) gd in Nov.
