in touch, brief effort 8th, weakened next
narrowly headed when mistake 3 out, stayed challenging, led narrowly last, kept on flat, caught final strides
in touch, ridden and outpaced by leading pair before 3 out, left poor 3rd last
tracked leaders until weakened before 3 out
tracked leaders, hit 6th, driven and outpaced by leading pair 3 out, 6 lengths 3rd when fell last
not always fluent, tracked leader, mistakes 7th and 9th, led narrowly 3 out, soon driven along, kept narrow advantage until jumped left and headed last, rallied and driven ahead final stride
pulled hard, held up last, hit 7th, steady headway from next, kept on under pressure from 3 out, but not reach leaders
in touch until weakened 9th
not fluent and always behind
mistakes and always behind
always behind, struggling before 8th, tailed off and pulled up before next
Hatteras is the pick, with Blue Planet, Mon Mome, Shower Of Hail and Peppershot respected. This is not a good contest, with some disappointing sorts in opposition, and it is with no great conviction that Hatteras is selected. To be fair, he was unlucky to come up against a potentially useful animal in Vinmix De Bessy who runs in the opener, when last seen here, and the step up in trip may be in his favour on this, his third consecutive appearance at the Sussex track. He makes just as much appeal as Mon Mome who appeared to have problems staying when fourth over the course and distance last time. Irish point-to-point winner Shower Of Hail was well down the field on his Chepstow debut in November but Pipe can be relied upon to have them fit enough, so he should not be left out of calculations entirely, while Peppershot has been absent even longer, having last raced at Fontwell in May last year. Touch Of Fate has also been successful between the flags in Ireland and shaped well on his Fontwell bow in November. The step up in trip should suit but he is best watched as well, and Hatteras is the tentative pick.
Blue Planet (IRE) 7-1 In touch, ridden after 3 out, soon weakened, 7th of 12, 17l behind Zero Risk at Fontwell 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-130 (C) gd in Dec '03.
Hatteras (FR) 6-1 Held up in touch, headway under pressure 3 out, stayed on from next to take 2nd run-in but no chance with winner, 2nd of 9, 6l behind Vinmix De Bessy at Plumpton 2m mdn hdl (E) gd in Mar.
Mon Mome (FR) 5-2 Chased leaders, jumped slowly 4th, headway 9th, weakened 3 out, 4th of 9, 27l behind Middleham Park at Plumpton 2m 5f nov hdl (E) gd in Mar.
Peppershot 6-1 Mid-division, headway 6th, ridden after 3 out, jumped left last, kept on same pace, 3rd of 10, 10l behind Dolzago at Fontwell 2m 2f 4yo nov hdl (E) gf in May.
Shower of Hail (IRE) 9-2 Prominent not jumping well, led 5th, slow and headed 7th, ridden and every chance when mistake 4 out, weakened quickly, 8th of 9, well behind Blushing Bull at Chepstow 2m 4f nh nov hdl (E) sft in Nov.
Tates Avenue (IRE) 11-1 Mid-division, headway 3rd, joined winner next, weakened rapidly approaching 3 out, virtually pulled up flat, 9th of 10, well behind Escompteur at Exeter 2m 1f nov hdl (E) hvy in Mar.
Touch of Fate 14-1 Not fluent, held up in touch, kept on steadily after 2 out, no danger when mistake last, 4th of 11, 11l behind Without A Doubt at Folkestone 2m 1f nh nov hdl (E) sft in Nov.
Eastwell Violet 12-1 Mid-division, ridden after 6th, soon weakened, tailed off and, 9th of 13, well behind Kadam at N Abbot 2m 6f nov hcp hdl 0-105 (E) gd in Mar.
