held up, smooth headway approaching 3 out, close 3rd and ridden approaching 2 out, found nil
dwelt, behind, headway to track leader 2nd, weakened after 5th, tailed off and pulled up before 2 out
tracked leaders, ridden after 3 out, soon weakened
held up, headway 5th, shaken up to challenge after 2 out, led last, pushed out
tracked leaders, ridden approaching 6th, soon weakened, tailed off
led, ridden after 3 out, headed last, no extra
The usual suspects on view and we side with Misbehaviour is the percentage play ahead of Monash Lad and Big Max. The Jim Best runner was unextended in victory at Fontwell at this level earlier in the month and provided that this race hasn't taken anything away from him, he realistically ticks all the boxes as far as this contest is concerned. Monash Lad has run creditably at plating levels. he may have preferred slightly more cut in the ground to run to his better form. Big Max was a decent stayer in his time. it is asking a lot for him to win this after a long absence although presumably connections wouldn't be running if they didn't feel he was up to it. Backscratcher and According To Plan look up against it whilst Fairly High and Ruling Reef have been disappointing. Misbehaviour looks a class above these and looks very difficult to oppose.
Misbehaviour Evensfav (11-1) Tracked leaders, headway 6th, led approaching last, soon clear, easily, won at Fontwell 2m 2f sll hdl (5) hvy beating Tashkandi (11-1) by 17l, 5 ran.
Backscratcher 28-1 (9-8) Led, headed 2nd, behind from 6th, tailed off when pulled up 4 out in race won by Barton Legend (11-2) at Ludlow 2m 5f amt nov hcp hdl (4) gs in Dec, 13 ran.
Big Max 7-1 (10-9) Prominent, with leaders when went lame and pulled up 5 out in race won by Lupin (11-10) at Worcester 2m 4f clm hdl (5) gf in Aug '06, 14 ran.
Monash Lad (IRE) 25-1 (11-0) Held up towards rear, steady progress approaching 3 out, stayed on to go 3rd flat, never a danger, 3rd of 18, 13l behind Double The Trouble (10-11) at Exeter 2m 1f amt hcp hdl (5) gs.
Fairly High (IRE) 33-1 (10-11) Tailed off from 9th and pulled up in race won by The Langer (11-0) at Taunton 2m 7f chs 0-90 (5) hvy, 8 ran.
Ruling Reef 9-1 (9-12) Never better than mid-division, 10th of 16, well behind Katess (11-6) at Fontwell 2m 2f nov hcp hdl 0-105 (4) sft in Jan.
According To Plan (IRE) 50-1 (11-1) Always behind, tailed off and pulled up 3 out in race won by Mister Gloss (11-4) at Exeter 2m 6f mdn hdl (5) gd in Feb, 13 ran.
