in mid-division when fell 3rd
held up in rear, steady headway after 4 out, chased winner and mistake last 3, no impression run-in and lost 2nd near finish
mid-division, mistake 4th, struggling when pulled up before 4 out
chased leaders, ridden after 4 out, stayed on under pressure run-in to take 2nd towards finish, not reach winner
mid-division, stayed on one pace, under pressure from 3 out
held up in rear, headway to track leaders 8th, still close up when mistake 3 out, soon weakened and heavily eased
chased leader to 5th, weakened before 4 out
behind, mistakes 4 and 6th, soon tailed off pulled up before 2 out
in touch, weakened 8th, soon well behind
behind, tailed off when mistake 5th, pulled up before 8th
tracked leaders, led approaching 3 out, driven out, stayed on well
chased leaders, went 2nd 5th, weakened 4 out, tailed off when pulled up approaching 2 out
led, ridden and headed approaching 3 out, weakened quickly
Barclay Boy gets the confident vote here with Spring Brook and Toemac rating the main dangers. The selection was a good second behind Paulo Dancer last time out and as the form of that race has worked out well we think he will be hard to be beat with conditions in his favour. Spring Brook rates the main danger as he won well last time out in a point-to-point. However the suspicion is he will be seen to better effect over a longer trip and he is taken on with this in mind. Toemac is another that could go well as he was a fair performer in bumpers and showed a modicum of ability on his hurdling debut when fifth behind Barton Park but he may just need the run after a 348-day absence. Of the remainder, Otantique hails from a yard in form and is worth a cautionary look in the market , but for the winner we return to Barclay Boy who sets a fair standard and will be hard to beat.
Barclay Boy 7-1 (10-12) Held up in rear, smooth headway to track leaders going well 3 out, stayed on to take 2nd flat, no chance with easy winner, 2nd of 9, 17l behind Paulo Dancer (10-12) at Plumpton 2m 5f nov hdl (4) gd.
Come Out Firing (IRE) 8-1 (10-11) Held up, blundered 8th, tailed off when pulled up 3 out in race won by Kealshore Lad (10-8) at Bangor 2m 4f nov hdl (4) gs, 9 ran.
Doctor Supremo (IRE) 100-1 (10-7) In touch, not fluent 4th, struggling from 9th, last of 9, well behind Paulo Dancer (10-12) at Plumpton 2m 5f nov hdl (4) gd.
Otantique (FR) 25-1 (10-8) Led until headed before 2 out, weakening when mistakes 2 out and last, 5th of 9, 28l behind Aztec Warrior (11-2) at Sandown 2m nh nov hdl (4) sft in Mar.
Silver Serg 50-1 (10-9) Chased leaders, ridden approaching 3 out, soon outpaced, 5th of 9, 27l behind Paulo Dancer (10-12) at Plumpton 2m 5f nov hdl (4) gd.
Spring Brook (IRE) (12-0) won at Kinsale 3m ire ptp frm in Jun beating Shining Lord (12-0) by 5l, 8 ran.
Toemac 14-1 (11-0) Led, jumped badly right 1st and 2nd, soon headed, pressed leader, ridden and every chance 2 out, one pace, 5th of 14, 17l behind Barton Park (11-0) at Wincanton 2m nh nov hdl (D) gd in Nov.
William Bonney (IRE) 8-1 (11-4) Led, headed over 4f out, soon ridden, weakened over 2f out, 9th of 14, 42l behind New Dancer (10-8) at Musselburgh 2m nhf (6) gf in Feb.
