keen early, tracked leader, challenged 4 out, led before next, soon ridden and wandered, headed last, kept on same pace
mid-division, mistake 5th, driven and lost place next, weakened from 3 out
mid-division, driven and outpaced 4 out, headway next, soon ridden and every chance, no extra flat
held up, headway 3 out, ridden and effort next, kept on, weakened flat
held up in rear, one pace 3 out, no chance when jumped right last
in touch, pushed along 4 out, ridden and headway after next, led last, held on flat
mid-division, headway 4 out, effort and every chance next, ridden and weakening when not fluent last
led, headed before 3 out, ridden and weakened after next
Wood Fern is a reluctant pick ahead of Abstinence and Fistral. Wood Fern has put up a couple of solid efforts in conditional handicap hurdles. Granted, there is nothing here that can be filed under exposed about the Donald McCain charge but the fact that trip and ground are fine. Abstinence has proved expensive to follow in bumpers. Andrea and Graham Wylie have had something of a clearout at the Doncaster sales of late so the fact he is still in their ownership suggests that he must have some latent ability. Fistral seemed to have every chance in a maiden hurdle at the track last month. He seems a great traveler but not the most competent of finishers. Starstruck Peter has had a couple of pipeopeners on the level. The booking of Timmy Murphy appears a positive. Follow On has proved moderate on the flat but was supported on an unsuccessful debut at Fakenham. Terenzium had every chance over course-and-distance but the saddle slipped at a vital stage. Haatmey put up a fair enough debut although he was a two miler on the flat in his previous campaigns. Not a race to have the housekeeping on and we are with Wood Fern.
Abstinence (IRE) 11-8fav (11-9) Steadied start, held up behind, outpaced 5f out, never dangerous, 7th of 8, 49l behind Keene Spirit (10-6) at Sedgefield 2m 1f nhf (6) gf in Nov.
Follow On 4-1 (11-0) Mid-division, ridden 5th, hit 6th and 7th, behind when pulled up 4 out in race won by Run To Me (10-7) at Fakenham 2m 4f mdn hdl (5) gs in Dec, 10 ran.
Haatmey 6-1 (11-0) Tracked leader, ridden approaching 2 out, one pace, 3rd of 11, 10l behind Tucker (11-0) at Wetherby 2m cnd nov hdl (4) gf.
Terenzium (IRE) 6-1 (11-5) With leader, hit 5th, every chance when not much room and bumped 2 out, saddle soon slipped and pulled up at the last in race won by Motive (11-12) at Wetherby 2m hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gf, 8 ran.
Wood Fern (UAE) 9-2 (11-11) In touch, headway 3 out, every chance next, beaten when hit last, 2nd of 13, 3 1/2l behind Monroe Gold (11-7) at Sedgefield 2m 1f nov hcp hdl 0-90 (5) gf in Mar.
Amarillo Slim (IRE) 33-1 (10-10) Chased leaders, mistake 5th, ridden and hit 4 out, weakened before next, 6th of 11, 27l behind High Standard (11-0) at Plumpton 2m mdn hdl (5) gf.
Fistral 5-1 (10-8) Chased leaders, one pace 2 out, 3rd of 12, 6l behind Norman Beckett (11-2) at Wetherby 2m mdn hdl gd in Apr.
Starstruck Peter (IRE) 8-1 (10-7) Chased leaders, not fluent 1st or 5th, weakened approaching 3 out, 6th of 14, 42l behind Synchronised (10-8) at Towcester 2m 3f mdn hdl (4) sft in Mar.
Capparoe Cross (IRE) 14-1 (10-1) Chased leaders, 3rd 4 out, soon hung badly right, leather broke and pulled up 3 out in race won by Drumconvis (10-11) at Naas 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-102 sft in Feb, 25 ran.
