chased leader, closed before 10th, led soon after, ridden and headed approaching 2 out, held when blundered last
towards rear, ridden and struggling in 6th 4 out, tailed off
behind, mistake 1st, struggling when blundered 10th, tailed off
led, clear 4th, went left and hit 8th, stumbled next, reduced lead before 10th, headed soon after, weakened and soon behind, pulled up before 3 out
chased leading pair, struggling when stumbled 10th, ridden and lost 3rd modest before 3 out, poor 6th when blundered 3 out, pulled up before next
soon well behind, tailed off when blundered 6th and pulled up quickly
mid-division, ridden in modest 5th before 9th, struggling in rear 4 out, tailed off and pulled up soon after next
in touch, plugged on from 3 out, never in contention
not fluent, towards rear, tailed off and pulled up before 3 out
mid-division, plugged on same pace fom 4 out
not fluent towards rear, plugged on same pace from 4 out, never on terms
held up towards rear, steady headway approaching 6th, went 2nd after 4 out, led before 2 out, clear when hit last
chased leading trio, went 3rd before 3 out, one pace
Watergate has the class to put up a good show under top weight in this grade but has to give 15lb to FLEUR DE VASSY. Tom Symonds' mare ran her best race so far this season when runner-up to Normally at Ffos Las and is only a couple of pounds higher here. Oscar Charlie disappointed at Fontwell after winning at Plumpton but Whitcombe Spirit comes here off the back of a win at Plumpton, though consistency is hardly his strong point and the suspicion remain that he's better on very heavy ground. Venetian Lad may be best of the rest.
Watergate (IRE) 3-1 (11-2) Held up last, mistake 3rd, blundered next, slow 6th, plugged on from 3 out, went 4th 2 out, kept on to press for well held 3rd flat, 4th of 8, 14l behind Amaury De Lusignan (11-9) at Folkestone 2m hcp ch 0-110 (4) gs in Jan.
Venetian Lad 25-1 (10-11) Held up towards rear, headway to 4th at 12th, went poor 3rd last, 3rd of 8, 23l behind The Black Baron (11-0) at Folkestone 2m 5f mdn chs (5) gs in Jan.
Identimin 16-1 (11-12) Held up, hit 3rd, some headway when hit 11th, weakened before next, went poor 3rd after 2 out, tailed off, 3rd of 8, 43l behind Pensnett Bay (11-4) at Uttoxeter 2m 5f nov hcp chs 0-100 (5) hvy in Jan.
Catspan (FR) 9-1 (11-10) Led, jumped left 2nd and 8th, headed before 3 out, weakened next, 5th of 11, 27l behind Master d'Or (11-11) at Fontwell 2m 6f hcp chs 0-95 (5) hvy in Jan.
Opera Og (IRE) 9-2 (11-9) Held up in touch, disputing 3rd when blundered badly and rider lost iron 7th, soon behind, not recover and pulled up before 4 out, in a race won by Chestnut Ben (11-1) at Hereford 2m hcp chs 0-95 (5) sft in Dec, 8 ran.
Across The Straits (FR) 16-1 (10-13) Held up mid-division, under pressure 5th, soon beaten, 7th of 9, 42l behind Marju King (11-6) at Plumpton 2m hcp hdl 0-95 (5) sft in Dec.
Fleur de Vassy 11-4fav (11-7) Tracked leader, led 2nd, not fluent 3 out, jumped left 2 out, soon driven and edged right, headed flat, no extra, 2nd of 5, 5l behind Normally (11-12) at Ffos Las 2m 5f hcp chs 0-95 (5) sft in Jan.
Catch The Rascal (IRE) 16-1 (11-5) Took keen hold, chased leader until approaching 4th, stayed well there until lost place 11th, struggling after, tailed off, 6th of 8, well behind Malin Head (10-4) at Folkestone 2m 5f hcp chs 0-95 (5) gd in Jan.
This Way (IRE) 22-1 (10-2) Took keen hold in touch on outside, awkward 1st, not fluent 4th, 5th or 7th, bad mistake 9th (water), soon pulled up, in a race won by Esteem (9-7) at Ludlow 2m 4f nov hcp chs 0-100 (5) gs in Jan, 9 ran.
Whitcombe Spirit 7-2 (10-11) Tracked leader until 2nd, stayed in close 3rd, mistake and ridden 3 out, rallied after last, pushed along and stayed on to to lead last stride, won at Plumpton 2m 1f nov hcp chs 0-100 (5) gs in Jan beating Lady Willa (11-9) by shd, 4 ran.
Arctic Flow 33-1 (10-11) Tracked leader to 4th, reminders after 5 out, weakened before 4 out, last of 7, well behind Molly Round (11-0) at Exeter 2m 3f mares nov ch (4) hvy in Dec.
Oscar Charlie (IRE) 5-2fav (10-5) Held up towards rear, headway 7th, outpaced 3 out, weakened before next, tailed off, 6th of 10, well behind King Of Castile (11-12) at Fontwell 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-95 (5) sft in Jan.
Just Playfull 10-1 (9-7) In touch, dived at 4 out, struggling in 6th and well beaten when pulled up before 3 out, in a race won by Brunette'sonly (11-4) at Lingfield 3m hcp chs 0-95 (5) hvy in Jan, 8 ran.
