mid-division, ridden and weakened after 3 out, moderate 3rd when bumped and fell 3 out
in touch, chased leader 5th, ridden to join winner after 8th, weakened quickly after 3 out
mid-division, jumped slowly 7th, headway to chase winner 3 out, soon every chance, pressed winner entering flat, held near finish
chased leader until 5th, weakened 3 out
held up in rear, ridden 3 out, left moderate 4th 2 out, never dangerous
always towards rear, reminders 6th, ridden 9th, behind when pulled up before next
close up, led 8th, ridden 2 out, hung right flat, held on gamely
in rear, headway to chase leaders after 8th, ridden 10th, left 3rd 2 out, weakened last
led, ridden 7th, headed next, soon lost place, pulled up before 11th
Nonrunner
A fairly competitive handicap where New Perk can produce a lifetime best to see off Honey's Gift, Miss Merenda and Squantum. The selection has been a revelation of late, winning three at the track, including the latest over c&d. He has been upped 8lb here, making his task a fair bit more tricky, but he clearly loves the track, acts on the surface, and should be good enough to make it four on the trot. Honey's Gift has been placed here a couple of times and acts with cut. She is heading back down the weights, but the combination of the fact that she is still 3lb higher than her last win and her slightly suspect stamina mean she is opposed. Miss Merenda makes her first appearance at the track. She stays well, but perhaps wants quicker ground, while the same could be said of Squantum, who won over a similar trip at Taunton last month but then flopped badly last time and has a bit to prove. But New Perk loves it here and gets the vote to go in again.
Miss Skippy 10-1 (10-13) Held up, ridden after 4 out, never dangerous, 5th of 12, 21l behind Zaffaran Express (11-6) at Ludlow 2m 5f mrs hcp hdl (4) gf in Jan.
Honey's Gift 8-1 (11-9) Tracked leaders, ridden to lead approaching 2 out, headed soon after, weakened approaching last, 4th of 11, 7l behind Proprioception (10-8) at Southwell 2m mrs hcp hdl (4) gd in Jan.
Squantum (IRE) 7-1 (11-3) With leaders, weakened from 4 out, 6th of 12, 49l behind Umbrella Man (11-12) at Southwell 3m hcp chs 0-100 (4) gd in Jan.
Oulton Broad 5-1 (10-12) In touch until weakened approaching 3 out, 6th of 12, 33l behind Barton Gate (10-5) at Uttoxeter 2m sll hdl (G) hvy in Dec.
Alexander Sapphire (IRE) 20-1 (10-9) Held up in touch, ridden 8th, weakening when mistake 2 out, 4th of 9, 40l behind Dan's Heir (10-9) at Fakenham 2m 4f nov hdl (4) gd in Jan.
New Perk (IRE) 5-2fav (10-3) Tracked leader, led before 2 out, held on under pressure closing stages, won at Fakenham 2m 7f hcp hdl 0-100 (4) gd in Jan beating Siegfrieds Night (11-2) by 1l, 7 ran.
In The Hat (IRE) 7-2 (10-13) Held up, headway 10th, soon ridden and weakened, 5th of 7, 35l behind New Perk (10-3) at Fakenham 2m 7f hcp hdl 0-100 (4) gd in Jan.
Miss Merenda 17-2 (11-5) Tracked winner, ridden 7th, lost 2nd 3 out, soon well behind, 5th of 6, well behind Heltornic (10-12) at Lingfield 2m 7f mrs nov hdl (E) hvy in Nov.
