held up in rear, headway 3 out, brief effort 2 out, weakened last
held up towards rear, hit 3rd, not fluent 3 out, soon ridden and one pace
led headed 2 out, kept on same pace
raced keen towards rear, headway 3 out, effort and chance next, one pace run in
tracked leaders, pushed along 3 out, ridden and weakened before next
tracked leader, led 2 out, ran on well
A cracking start to proceedings and four of these have already earned handicap marks which suggests they’ll hold their own in graded company. Only a head separated DIDTHEYLEAVUOUTTO and Thomas Darby in this grade at Ascot last month and the latter is now 3lb better off. But the former may be suited by the way this race is likely to be run as he’s a hold-up horse whereas Olly Murphy’s charge, easy Haydock winner The Big Bite and Southwell scorer Rouge Vif all like to race up with the pace and may take each other on. Mister Fisher is no forlorn hope as he’ll have learned plenty from his narrow defeat at Newbury and is getting 5lb and upwards from his rivals apart from Plumpton second Fly To Mars.
Didtheyleaveuoutto (IRE) 9-4 (11-5) Close up, headway to track leaders 2 out, ridden to join leader flat, driven to lead narrowly towards finish, ran on, won at Ascot 2m (2) gd in Nov beating Thomas Darby (11-5) by hd, 8 ran.
The Big Bite (IRE) 1-2fav (11-5) Led and set steady gallop from 1st, made rest, quickened pace 3 out, soon clear, in no danger after, pushed out, very easily, won at Haydock 2m (2) hvy in Dec beating Demopolis (11-5) by 19l, 6 ran.
Rouge Vif (FR) 2-1fav (11-0) Made all, clear and not fluent last, readily, won at Southwell 2m mdn (4) gs in Dec beating Oakley (11-0) by 10l, 13 ran.
Thomas Darby (IRE) 15-8fav (11-5) Tracked leaders, hit 2 out, ridden to lead approaching last, joined flat, headed narrowly towards finish, ran on, 2nd of 8, hd behind Didtheyleaveuoutto (11-5) at Ascot 2m (2) gd in Nov.
Fly To Mars 40-1 (10-12) Raced keenly, held up mid-division, chased leaders 3 out, went 2nd when went left last, ridden and kept on flat, no impression with winner, 2nd of 13, 4l behind Third Wind (10-12) at Plumpton 2m 5f mdn (4) sft in Dec.
Mister Fisher (IRE) 13-8fav (10-12) Chased leader until approaching 4 out, handy 3rd, challenged and not fluent last, went 2nd again run-in, led 100 yards out, headed post, 2nd of 16, shd behind Ecu De La Noverie (10-12) at Newbury 2m (4) gs in Nov.
