took keen hold, held up in 4th place, closer going well when not fluent 2 out, outpaced soon after, stayed on again run-in
jumped left at times, led, joined 2 out, hung right and headed after 2 out, 3rd and held when mistake last, no extra run-in
tracked leading pair, tracked leader 2nd until 5th, 2nd again approaching 4 out until approaching next, effort on inside and every chance 2 out, 2nd before the last, one pace run-in
jumped left at times, tracked leader until 2nd, handy 3rd, 2nd again 5th until approaching 4 out, 2nd again approaching next, challenged going well 2 out, led soon after, went left last, stayed on well
held up last, jumped slowly 8th, outpaced next (4 out), rallied on outside approaching 2 out, edged left and stayed on into never nearer 3rd run-in
COPAIN DE CLASSE was left to come home alone in a match at Fontwell after his sole rival departed but he’d earlier run well in a decent novices’ handicap at Ascot and races off the same mark. Kayf Blanco has every chance at the weights but keeps finding one too good and doesn’t find much when push comes to shove. Vocaliser was denied a hat-trick at Ludlow and looks in the handicapper’s grip now. A similar comment applies to Deauville Dancer and Free Stone Hill is probably being readied for a spring campaign.
Deauville Dancer (IRE) 28-1 (10-8) Held up towards rear, hit 11th, well beaten from 3 out, 9th of 10, dist behind Guitar Pete (10-5) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp (1) sft in Dec.
Copain De Classe (FR) 4-6fav (10-12) Tracked leader, awkward 1st, left alone next, not fluent 5th, won at Fontwell 2m 2f (2) gs in Feb
Kayf Blanco 7-2fav (11-12) Held up in touch, tracked leaders 4 out, went 3rd next, driven to challenge and every chance between last 2, ridden and kept on flat, held near finish, 2nd of 8, nk behind Favorito Buck's (11-8) at Kempton 2m 4f hcp (3) gd in Feb.
Vocaliser (IRE) 10-3 (11-8) Tracked leading pair, left in 2nd at 3rd, led 5th (water), headed 2 out, lost 2nd between last 2, 3rd and one pace run-in, 3rd of 9, 2 3/4l behind Admiral's Secret (11-1) at Ludlow 2m hcp (4) gs in Feb.
Free Stone Hill (IRE) 9-1 (12-0) Held up towards rear, not much room when not fluent 5th, ridden and well beaten after 3 out, last of 10, dist behind Shining Romeo (11-8) at Huntingdon 2m hcp (4) sft in Feb.
