tracked leading pair, went 2nd 4th, hit 3 out, upsides winner last, every chance flat, held towards finish
tracked leading trio, went 3rd approaching 2 out, switched right approaching last, no extra flat, weakened towards finish
took keen hold, tracked leader, mistakes 1st and 2nd, lost 2nd at 4th, ridden approaching 3 out, beaten under pressure soon after
made all, hit 4 out, jumped left 2 out, joined and good jump last, driven to effert towards finish
held up last, ridden approaching 3 out, soon no headway
Lester Leaps In gets the vote here ahead of Marc Of Brilliance and Prince Ary. Lester Leaps In surprised connections by running so well on heavy going when just denied by Paradi at Sandown last time. Today's better going should suit him better and he can go well. Marc Of Brilliance was a fair fourth to the subsequent Triumph Hurdle winner Katchit in a Grade 2 event at Cheltenham in November, where he had Prince Ary behind him. Okay, Cheltenham in November on good to soft is a far cry from Plumpton on good going four months later but he can still go well. If it becomes tactical, you could not rule out Prince Ary, while Twill is a 76-rated two-mile Flat winner and Cantabilly has at least proven that he can win a race. Overall, though, for the selection we will stick with Lester Leaps In.
Cantabilly (IRE) 10-3 (11-12) Held up, in touch, headway after 3 out, ridden and effort before next, beaten when mistake last, 4th of 6, 23l behind President Royal (11-4) at Exeter 2m 1f 4yo nov hcp hdl (3) hvy in Feb.
Marc of Brilliance (USA) 5-4fav (11-0) Held up, headway after 6th, weakened after 2 out, 3rd of 10, 11l behind dhtrs Thunder Rock (11-5) & Santando (11-5) at Plumpton 2m nov hdl (4) sft in Jan.
Prince Ary 6-4fav (11-4) Chased clear leader, closed and mistake 3 out, led well before 2 out, headed approaching 2 out, soon weakened and no chance with easy winner, 2nd of 8, 14l behind Pouvoir (10-12) at Kempton 2m 4yo nov hdl (4) sft in Jan.
Lester Leaps In (USA) 10-1 (10-12) Chased winner, upsides when not fluent last, every chance run-in, no extra, 2nd of 7, nk behind Paradi (11-4) at Sandown 2m 4yo nov hdl (3) hvy in Feb.
Twill (IRE) 8-1 (9-13) In touch, chased leaders 3f out, ridden over 2f out, no progress, weakened over 1f out, 8th of 12, 8l behind Noble Minstrel (9-4) at Kempton 2m hcp 0-75 (5) pol in Feb (Flat).
