FAIVOIR finished clear of the rest when going close at Huntingdon behind a subsequent hurdles winner. His ability to handle the testing ground has to be taken on trust but Dan Skelton’s charge has the strongest form. Fortunate Fred never threatened when placed at Huntingdon more recently but Run A Rig wasn’t beaten that far when only sixth at Catterick. Sponthus debuts under Rules having placed in a couple of point-to-points while Freddie Corbitt is preferred to Presenting Yeats of the newcomers.
Faivoir (FR) 2-1 (11-2) Took keen hold, held up in touch, went 2nd over 3f out, driven over 1f out, stayed on, held towards finish, 2nd of 7, 1/2l behind Presence Of Mind (11-2) at Huntingdon 1m 6f mdn (5) gs in Nov.
Fortunate Fred (FR) 16-1 (11-4) Mid-division on outside, headway 7f out, outpaced 3f out, kept on final furlong, went 3rd close home, 3rd of 15, 10 1/4l behind Third Time Lucki (11-11) at Huntingdon 2m (5) sft in Jan.
Freddie Corbitt (IRE) Sans Frontieres gelding out of Thrilling Prospect.
Sponthus (FR) 9-4 (11-6) Mid-div, mstk 3rd, 3rd from 5out, cl 2nd aftr 3out, ld bef 2out, mstk last, hdd early flat, gaining on wnr to line, 2nd of 9, nk behind Premiumaccess (11-11) at Kinsale 3m mdn Soft - Heavy in Nov.
Wetanwindy 66-1 (11-2) Detached throughout, reminders and struggling 10f out, tailed off, last of 14, dist behind I Hope Star (10-4) at Lingfield 2m (5) pol in Jan.
Midnight Makeover 100-1 (10-11) Mid-division, lost place after 3f, tailed off final 5f, last of 9, dist behind One True King (11-4) at Ludlow 1m 6f (4) sft in Jan.
Run A Rig 25-1 (10-5) Tracked leaders, lost place over 1f out, weakened inside final furlong, 6th of 14, 7 1/4l behind Pennine Cross (10-12) at Catterick 2m (5) gs in Dec.
Midnight Jewel 66-1 (10-7) Mid-division on outside, lost place 5f out, 15th of 18, 28 1/2l behind Here Comes Mccoy (11-5) at Warwick 2m (5) sft in Jan.
Presenting Yeats (IRE) Yeats gelding out of Va'vite.
