tracked leader, led 3 out, ridden and headed 2 out, no extra flat
held up, headway on outside after 5th, ridden approaching 2 out, went 2nd flat, stayed on, unable to reach winner
led, mistake and headed 3 out, weakened before next, eased, tailed off
held up, not fluent 3rd, headway on inside after 4th, jumped slowly next, mistake 3 out, soon outpaced by leaders, staying on when hampered last, went 3rd post, no chance with front pair
held up, headway approaching 6th, disputing 4 lengths 3rd when fell last
prominent, took keen hold, not fluent 1st, lost place approaching 5th, well behind 3 out, tailed off
tracked leaders, took keen hold, challenged 3 out, led next, stayed on
This trip looks a bit sharp nowadays for Double Expresso and he was also pulled up on his reappearance over fences at Newcastle. With questions to answer, it may be best to stick with the former Paul Nicholls inmate ADVISOR, who probably isn't straightforward but never came off the bridle in winning a seller over 2m4f at Hereford last month and shouldn't be inconvenienced by the drop in trip. Fulgora probably has more to do than when winning at Ludlow but has more scope than Cantabilly, well beaten at Wincanton on Saturday.
Double Expresso 3-1 (11-0) Held up in rear, went 3rd from 12th, pushed along and weakened after 5 out, left poor 3rd from 4 out, pulled up soon after, in a race won by Lackamon (10-12) at Newcastle 3m Novice Limited Handicap Chase (0-135) (4yo+) (3) gs in Nov, 5 ran.
Advisor (FR) 9-4fav (10-9) Held up in rear, steady headway before 6th, 3rd next, tracked leader before 2 out, challenged and hit 2 out, led soon after, clear before last, idled flat, kept on well, won at Hereford 2m 4f sll hdl (5) sft in Dec beating Flowerbud (9-12) by 4 1/2l, 7 ran.
Blacktoft (USA) 33-1 (10-6) Led until 6th, blundered 8th, weakened 3 out, 11th of 13, 46l behind Anquetta (10-3) at Sandown 2m hcp chs 0-145 (2) gd in Feb.
Cantabilly (IRE) 33-1 (10-2) Prominent, mistakes, ridden after 6th, soon weakened, 7th of 12, 31l behind Star Of Angels (11-12) at Wincanton 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-135 (3) sft.
Now What 66-1 (10-10) In touch, bumped 1st, some headway after 3 out, blundered and weakened 2 out, 9th of 16, 45l behind Elegant Touch (10-10) at Lingfield 2m mrs nov hdl (4) gs in Nov.
Underlay Underlay 100-1 (10-5) Took keen hold, prominent, led 4th until 6th, soon ridden, well held by leaders before 3 out, 5th of 12, 17l behind Fulgora (10-5) at Ludlow 2m 3yo sll hdl (5) gs in Dec.
Fulgora 33-1 (10-5) Tracked leaders, challenged after 6th, led approaching 3 out, hit 2 out, stayed on well, won at Ludlow 2m 3yo sll hdl (5) gs in Dec beating Gud Day (10-12) by 2 3/4l, 12 ran.
