tracked leader to 8th, regained 2nd next, hit 4 out, ridden to lead before last, kept on
tracked leaders in 3rd, went 2nd at 8th until next, ridden before 12th, weakened before 3 out
in touch in 4th, hit 10th, mistake 5 out, ridden and weakened before last
held up in rear, pushed along and weakened from 4 out
led, ridden and headed before last, kept on
Fred Bojangals may just have needed his fourth at Newcastle on Thursday and isn't badly handicapped on his best form while a case could also be made for Cottage Acre if he got his jumping sorted out. Gavroche Gaugain is only 4lb higher than when successful over C&D in the autumn but is another with jumping issues and Willie Hall may not have beaten much here last month, though is unexposed over the larger obstacles. The ground has finally come right for PLUNKETT and Evan Williams' gelding is back on a winning mark. He gets the vote today though Deuteronomy could prove troublesome as he led his rivals a merry dance over 3m3f here 11 days ago before his stamina gave out and has been dropped a further 3lb since.
Fred Bojangals (IRE) 9-1 (11-12) Tracked leaders, jumped right 3rd, blundered 8th, effort 3 out, gradually weakened, 4th of 6, 20l behind Montoya's Son (11-12) at Newcastle 2m 4f hcp chs 0-120 (4) gd in Mar.
Cottage Acre (IRE) 8-1 (11-12) Led, not fluent and joined 15th, pushed along before 3 out, soon joined, shaken up and already headed when fell 2 out, in a race won by King Jack (11-6) at Southwell 3m hcp chs 0-115 (4) gs in Mar, 5 ran.
Willie Hall 5-6fav (11-0) Soon in rear, in touch before 9th, went 3rd before 13th, ridden to lead last, driven out, won at Sedgefield 2m 4f beg chase (5) gd in Mar beating Double Expresso (11-0) by 2 1/2l, 5 ran.
Plunkett (IRE) 12-1 (11-1) Held up in last trio, ridden and struggling in 5th before 4 out, left 4th 4 out, went modest 2nd next, dropped to 4th soon after last, 4th of 8, 18l behind Master Milan (11-5) at Ffos Las 2m 5f hcp chs 0-115 (4) sft in Mar.
Deuteronomy (IRE) 20-1 (10-12) Led, soon clear, headed 3 out, weakened from next, 4th of 10, 39l behind Belmore Baron (10-10) at Sedgefield 3m 3f hcp ch 0-110 (4) gd in Mar.
Gavroche Gaugain (FR) 8-1 (11-5) Held up towards rear, weakened from 4 out, fell 2 out, in a race won by Prince Tam (10-8) at Newcastle 2m hcp chs 0-105 (4) gd in Mar, 9 ran.
