tracked leaders and bit keen, hit 3rd, went 2nd before 2 out, shaken up between last 2, ridden and stayed on gamely run-in, led towards finish
held up last, stumbled badly 1st, niggled along after 3rd, outpaced and struggling next, tailed off
tracked leader and kept bit wide, led after 3 out, hard ridden and edged right briefly run-in, headed and no extra towards finish
held up in last pair, closer at 4th, pushed along in 4th before 2 out, hung right and weakened between last 2
led, jumped slowly and joined 4th, pushed along and headed after 3 out, lost 2nd and no extra in 3rd before next
tracked leading pair, weakened on long run before 2 out
INTERCONNECTED returns from a lengthy absence having undergone wind surgery and switched to Dan Skelton’s in-form yard since last in action. He found only the subsequent Grade 2 winner Emitom too good at Newbury on his hurdling bow and can make a winning reappearance. Hamilton Dici has also moved yards since winning at Warwick in December and is penalised while bumper runner-up Hamilton's Fantasy ran too fresh on her hurdling bow and faded badly in the closing stages. Brave Seasca is a likely improver and preferred to Handsome Samson while Potenza has won three times on the Flat and should handle the underfoot conditions.
Brave Seasca (FR) 33-1 (11-4) Held up, headway 3rd, close up, ridden and jumped left 3 out, plugged on, 4th of 18, 11l behind Patroclus (11-4) at Exeter 2m 1f mdn (4) sft in Jan.
Handsome Samson 66-1 (11-4) Close up, ridden and weakened soon after 3 out, 8th of 12, 35 3/4l behind Sheldon (11-4) at Fakenham 2m mdn (3) hvy in Jan.
Interconnected 8-1 (10-12) Raced keenly, held up tracking leaders, outpaced 3 out, good headway on outside going well before 2 out, went 2nd before led narrowly last, ran green run-in, headed towards finish, 2nd of 9, 3/4l behind Emitom (11-8) at Newbury 2m 5f (4) gs in Mar.
Potenza (IRE) 11-2 (9-13) Towards rear, headway over 2f out, ridden to press winner when edged left and hampered inside final furlong, stayed on, 2nd of 10, 3/4l behind Olympic Conqueror (9-12) at Doncaster 1m 2f hcp (5) sft in Oct.
Hamilton Dici (FR) 11-2 (10-12) Made all, jumped right and slow at times, pressed last, driven flat, held on well, won at Warwick 2m mdn (4) sft in Dec beating Ambassador (10-12) by hd, 9 ran.
Hamilton's Fantasy 11-4 (11-0) Sweating and edgy, raced keenly tracking leaders, pushed along after 3 out, soon weakened, 10th of 15, dist behind Little River Bay (11-12) at Newbury 2m 5f (4) hvy in Jan.
