tracked leaders until lost place and dropped to rear before 5th, rallied 10th, went 3rd 12th, pushed along and outpaced approaching 3 out, no chance with leading duo
soon led, joined 3 out, ridden and headed before next, no chance with easy winner before last
held up in last pair, headway, went 3rd after 8th until ridden 12th, weakened next
jumped well, tracked leading pair, went 2nd 7th, challenged 3 out, led before next, 3 lengths ahead last, pushed further clear flat, easily
led early, tracked leader until 7th, chased leading pair, hit rail on bend after 8th, reminders before 11th, weakened next, struggling in rear, went poor 4th 2 out
Plum Pudding was just touched off at Huntingdon and Fakenham in October but that earned him a rise in the weights and he was well beaten at Plumpton last time. UPTON MEAD appears to have the stronger credentials having been placed at Kempton and over this track and trip last month. He also finished 14 lengths ahead of Plum Pudding at Plumpton and is a pound better off here. Bincombe was pulled up on his fencing bow at Stratford and Ring Bo Ree has shown little in three runs since returning from injury. Hunter chaser Starburst Diamond's recent record under Rules is modest and he was well behind Plum Pudding in his last run in a handicap.
Plum Pudding (FR) 11-4 (10-11) Mostly tracked leading pair, lost 3rd 9th, soon weakened, no chance when mistake 4 out, tailed off, 5th of 7, well behind Beforeall (11-1) at Plumpton 2m 4f hcp chs 0-120 (4) gs in Nov.
Ring Bo Ree (IRE) 6-1 (11-4) Led, narrowly headed 9th, chased leader, led briefly before 4 out, chased winner, no chance from 3 out, lost 2nd before 2 out, weakened soon after, 5th of 7, 24l behind Forest Walker (11-12) at Uttoxeter 2m 4f hcp chs 0-120 (4) sft in Nov.
Upton Mead (IRE) 5-1 (10-9) Held up in touch, pushed along in 4th before 10th, weakened before 3 out, tailed off, 4th of 7, 37l behind Beforeall (11-1) at Plumpton 2m 4f hcp chs 0-120 (4) gs in Nov.
Bincombe 13-2 (11-9) Tracked leaders, lost place when blundered 3 out, soon weakened, tailed off when pulled up before last, in a race won by What A Good Night (10-10) at Stratford 2m 7f nov hcp chs 0-100 (5) sft in Oct, 9 ran.
Starburst Diamond (IRE) 20-1 (12-0) (bl) ap; led 9 til hdd cl home, 2nd of 18, 1/2l behind PEvensey (12-3) at Albrighton Woodland 3m ptp gf in May.
