tracked leader, challenged 8th, led next, ridden and narrowly headed 2 out, chased winner, kept on run-in, lost 2nd close home
tracked leaders on inside, blundered badly and lost place 7th, behind and pulled up before next
held up in last pair, headway approaching 8th, chased leading trio soon after, 3rd well before 2 out, mistake 2 out and soon outpaced, rallied last, kept on well run-in, went 2nd close home
raced wide, held up in rear, disputing poor 5th when stumbled badly 3 out, no chance after, pulled up before last
tracked leaders, 2nd before 3 out, led narrowly 2 out, staye don well and driven out run-in
led, joined 8th, headed next, chased leader until approaching 3 out, dropped to 4th well before next, one pace and no chance with leading trio
chased leaders, weakened 8th, plugged on
raced wide, chased leading pair, jumped slowly and lost place 4th, soon driven along, ridden and struggling after next, behind and pulled up after 8th
Todd won at Fakenham last month and has had a run on the all-weather since. Great Choice started favourite at Wincanton last month while Spirit D'Armor could be well treated back over timber. Our Phylli Vera has won twice here over shorter trips and showed signs of a revival at Exeter last time but we'll take a chance that headgear will bring about the necessary improvement for SPRING STEEL to open his account. His yard is in great form and he only found one too good at Market Rasen on Boxing Day when Todd was back in fourth. Padre Tito is preferred to the returning Laughton Park of the remainder.
Great Choice (IRE) 9-4fav (11-12) Tracked leading pair, went 2nd on long run to 2 out, soon ridden, no impression, dropped to 3rd and one pace before the last, 3rd of 9, 11l behind Private Malone (11-12) at Wincanton 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-125 (3) hvy in Jan.
Padre Tito (IRE) 10-1 (11-12) Chased leader, led 3rd until 3 out, chased leaders, pushed along when took false step and weakened before 2 out, behind when went left 2 out, soon eased, tailed off, 12th of 14, well behind Tara Road (11-8) at Ascot 2m 3f nov hcp hdl 0-120 (4) gd in Nov.
Todd 6-1 (11-5) Raced wide, held up in last pair but well in touch, headway tracking leading trio 4th, chased leader 8th, led 2 out, ridden between last two, kept on and always doing enough run-in, won at Fakenham 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-120 (4) sft in Jan beating Raktiman (11-7) by 3/4l, 6 ran.
Spirit D'armor (FR) 10-3 (11-8) Fell 1st, in a race won by Foxbridge (11-5) at Ffos Las 2m 5f hcp chs 0-115 (4) hvy in Jan, 6 ran.
Laughton Park 13-2 (10-7) Held up in mid-division, hit 6th, headway to chase leaders approaching 9th, went 2nd before 3 out, led after 3 out, clear 2 out, kept on strongly, won at Plumpton 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gd in Mar beating Ussee (10-13) by 5l, 13 ran.
Spring Steel (IRE) 10-1 (10-5) Led, joined 4 out, headed before 2 out, rallied last, kept on same pace closing stages, 2nd of 5, 5l behind Make Me A Fortune (10-13) at Market Rasen 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-120 (4) gs in Dec.
Our Phylli Vera (IRE) 25-1 (11-1) Mid-division, outpaced after 2nd, went 4th after 3 out, stayed on, left 3rd when hampered last, no impression, 3rd of 12, 13l behind Jackies Solitaire (11-7) at Exeter 2m 1f mrs hcp hdl 0-120 (4) sft in Jan.
Minority Interest 25-1 (11-12) Mid-division, lost place and ridden after 4 out, behind from next, 9th of 10, 31l behind Hold The Bucks (11-3) at Plumpton 2m hcp hdl 0-110 (4) sft in Jan.
