close up, slow jump 5 out and lost position, soon pushed along, ridden after 4 out, plugged on same pace
towards rear, not fluent 2nd, headway after 13th, went 4th home turn, mistake and unseated rider 4 out
in rear, pushed along and headway 4 out, went 2nd approaching 2 out, stayed on, no match for winner
tracked leaders, hit 5th, led 13th, forged clear after 3 out, not fluent 2 out, soon well in command, easily
led, mistake 12th and reminders, headed next, pushed along after 14th, soon tailed off
chased leaders, hit 3 out and ridden, gradually faded
towards rear, mid-division after 9th, left in 3rd 4 out, ridden and kept on one pace
French Paradoxe threw away a chance for a hat-trick when clear approaching the last fence at Ffos Las but getting it all wrong. He’s still been raised a further 7lb while Plumpton winner Old Painless found one too good last time and is 6lb higher. Morning Spirit was upped in class at Haydock last month and is preferred in this grade to Kelso winner Fortified Bay but CASTLE RUSHEN (NAP) was having only his second start over fences when runner-up here and the return to this longer trip will suit.
Morning Spirit (IRE) 8-1 (11-2) Close 3rd, went 2nd before 5th, led 9th until 13th, chased leader until 5 out, chased leaders, ridden and one pace in 4th from next, 4th of 12, 25 3/4l behind All About Joe (10-9) at Haydock 3m 4f hcp (2) sft in Dec.
Castle Rushen (IRE) 9-2 (12-0) Held up, not fluent 1st, some headway home turn to go 5th, pushed along and outpaced 3 out, kept on well from 2 out, ran on into 2nd from last, 2nd of 9, 3 3/4l behind O'Toole (12-0) at Newcastle 2m 4f hcp (3) sft in Jan.
Wowsham (IRE) 12-1 (11-5) Tracked leaders in 3rd, 4th and pushed along at halfway, ridden in last after 3 out, weakened, last of 5, dist behind The Friday Man (11-6) at Navan 2m 6f gd in Sep.
French Paradoxe (FR) 3-1fav (11-6) Raced widest, soon chasing leaders, went 2nd before 10th, led 13th, went left and awkward 3 out, clear and travelling well before 2 out, 8 lengths ahead when fell last, at Ffos Las 3m hcp (3) sft in Dec.
Fortified Bay (IRE) 20-1 (12-2) Made all, mistake 3rd, pushed along before 2 out, ridden last and stayed on strongly, won at Kelso 2m 6f hcp (4) hvy in Jan beating Caboy (10-7) by 10l, 10 ran.
Old Painless (IRE) 3-1 (11-1) Close up, disputed lead 3rd, clear lead 8th, challenged for lead 2 out, soon ridden, one length ahead last, kept on but headed near finish, 2nd of 9, 1 1/2l behind Bill Baxter (11-6) at Kelso 2m 6f hcp (3) hvy in Dec.
Houston Texas (IRE) 12-1 (11-9) Prominent, not fluent 1st, ridden and weakened after 3 out, 5th of 8, 8 1/4l behind Theme Tune (11-11) at Newcastle 3m hcp (3) sft in Jan.
