chased leaders, lost place after 4 out, tailed off
led, mistake 4 out, soon headed, weakened before next, completely tailed off
held up in rear, outpaced after 4 out, rallied 2 out, kept on into 4th, never a threat
prominent, slow 6th, weakened before 2 out, modest 3rd
mid-division, headway 4 out, chased leader next, led before last, strongly challenged throughout run i, headed last strides
held up in rear, headway 3 out, soon weakened, tailed off
chased leader, led before 3 out, mistake next, soon headed, rallied and every chance throughout run in, hard driven to lead again close home
held up, headway under pressure after 4 out, weakened next, tailed off
Second twice in handicaps this season, Call Me Sid should be thereabouts again. Barntown disappointed in better company at Sandown last month but would have a chance in this on earlier form. Never Equalled likes it here so warrants a mention while Saint Dalina could be interesting if forgiven a poor run at Exeter, though still has stamina to prove. Astra Via has placed in four of her seven hurdles starts and ran her best race to date last time at Taunton but she is taken on with POUCOR. A winner at Plumpton in November, it was a surprise to see Mick Channon’s five-year-old revert to 2m at Taunton as he’d run well over this trip previously at Fakenham – he’s still on a fair mark.
Never Equalled (IRE) 9-1 (11-2) Prominent, led 7th until after 4 out, weakened after 3 out, 4th of 8, 31 1/4l behind Keep Wondering (11-12) at Ffos Las 2m 3f hcp (4) hvy in Jan.
Poucor 4-1jfav (11-9) Chased leaders, close 2nd and hit 3 out, lost 2nd before next, weakened between last 2, 6th of 11, 15 1/4l behind Knight Destroyer (11-8) at Taunton 2m hcp (4) hvy in Jan.
Barntown (IRE) 4-1 (10-13) Held up last, pushed along on long run after 2 out (normal 3 out), never a factor, tailed off, 8th of 9, 26 3/4l behind Stick With Bill (11-12) at Sandown 2m 4f hcp (3) hvy in Feb.
Call Me Sid 11-2 (11-10) Always well placed, led after 9th to 3 out, led 2 out, soon headed, one pace, 2nd of 11, 5l behind No Rematch (11-12) at Ffos Las 3m hcp (4) hvy in Jan.
Jac Brown 12-1 (11-2) Prominent, hit 5th, behind from 7th, tailed off, 5th of 7, dist behind Pileon (11-8) at Ffos Las 2m 4f (4) hvy in Jan.
The Wire Flyer 25-1 (11-10) Prominent to 3 out, 4th of 12, dist behind Main Fact (12-0) at Ffos Las 2m hcp (4) sft in Jan.
Saint Dalina (FR) 8-1 (11-0) Chased leaders on inside, pushed along before 3 out, weakened 3 out, 6th of 11, 36 1/2l behind Endless Flight (10-13) at Exeter 2m 3f hcp (4) hvy in Jan.
Astra Via 14-1 (11-7) Held up towards rear, headway chasing leaders 3 out, pushed along in 3rd before next, kept on, 3rd of 17, 1 1/4l behind Tactical Manoeuvre (11-9) at Taunton 2m 3f hcp (5) sft in Feb.
