in touch early, towards rear 6th, stayed on from 4 out, close 3rd when went badly right and blundered 2 out, weakened and not recover
raced on inside, led until narrowly headed approaching 10th, hit next, led 4 out, came clear from 2 out, stayed on strongly
held up towards rear, steady headway from 4 out, went 3rd 2 out, no impression
held up towards rear, steady headway approaching 4 out, chased leader 3 out, 3 lengths down in 2nd when hit 2 out, no impression soon after
behind, blundered 14th, moderate 7th after 4 out, hit 2 out
chased leaders, behind from 12th, blundered 14th, tailed off
in touch, headway to 2nd 6th, led approaching 10th until headed approaching 4 out, disputing 3rd when blundered 3 out, weakened and mistake next
always in rear, struggling after 9th, tailed off when pulled up approaching 3 out
numerous mistakes, prominent, hit 6th, blundered 12th, mistake 13th, beaten when hit 2 out
chased leaders, mistake 8th, soon struggling, tailed off 4 out
in rear when fell 1st
Rapid Increase has obvious claims but will be priced accordingly, Shaking Hands may not be one to rely on so it could be worth giving another chance to FLACO. Rapid Increase remains well handicapped on the best of his old form and he may well be able to maintain his current level of improvement now that he has recaptured his form but the bookmakers are unlikely to give anything away. Shaking Hands has won two of his last three starts but spat the dummy out in between and connections have been forced to vary his headgear; that ploy worked well last time but it remains to be seen if it does again. Flaco ran no race at Newbury but that may well have been down to the going as his half-brother, Character Building, also has an aversion to heavy ground. He had shaped well in two starts for this yard prior to that, has been dropped 2lbs and looks capable of landing a race of this nature. Flemish Invader is considered, Son Histoire and Fine Parchment have stronger claims and should feature whilst Noble Aran is worth a second look as he makes his chase debut which all goes to give this a competitive look which is why we'd rather overlook Rapid Increase and take a chance at a bigger price with Flaco.
Flemish Invader (IRE) 6-1 (10-6) Prominent, bumped 12th, ridden after 4 out, weakened last, 3rd of 8, 21l behind Pickamus (10-13) at Huntingdon 2m 4f nov chs 0-115 (4) sft in Dec.
Sharajan (IRE) 16-1 (11-11) Held up in touch, weakened after 5 out, 4th of 12, 19l behind Afistfullofpebbles (11-10) at Ffos Las 2m 5f nov hcp chs 0-115 (4) gs in Jan.
War Footing 11-4 (11-0) Chased leaders, went 2nd after 9th, jumped left 10th, fell 14th, in a race won by Quentin D'ex (11-0) at Towcester 3m beg chase (4) hvy in Jan, 5 ran.
Rapid Increase (IRE) 4-5fav (11-6) Held up in touch, headway 4 out, soon chasing leader, led last, ran on, won at Folkestone 3m 1f hcp ch 0-110 (4) sft in Jan beating Aces Or Better (11-9) by 3l, 5 ran.
Flaco (IRE) 12-1 (10-5) Held up in rear, struggling 13th, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out, in a race won by Doctor Pat (10-13) at Newbury 2m 6f nov hcp chs 0-130 (3) hvy in Dec, 13 ran.
Son Histoire (FR) 11-2 (11-4) Close up, chased winner from 8th, challenging from 11th, every chance when blundered 3 out, driven and no real impression from next, 2nd of 7, 1l behind Newbay Bob (10-9) at Exeter 3m hcp chs 0-115 (4) sft.
Fine Parchment (IRE) 7-4fav (11-11) Held up towards rear, headway 10th, chasing leaders approaching last, weakened flat, 6th of 14, 17l behind Absolute Shambles (10-7) at Huntingdon 3m nov hcp chs 0-110 (4) gs in Dec.
Freddies Return (IRE) 4-1 (11-11) Held up, steady headway 12th, driven in 3rd after 4 out, blundered and unseated rider 3 out, in a race won by Shaking Hands (11-3) at Lingfield 3m hcp chs 0-105 (4) hvy, 8 ran.
Shaking Hands (IRE) 15-2 (11-3) Close up, chased leader after 4 out, led 3 out, came clear before last (no time taken), won at Lingfield 3m hcp chs 0-105 (4) hvy beating Topless (11-12) by 8l, 8 ran.
Tokpela (IRE) 20-1 (11-5) Mid-division, hampered 7th, headway next, went 2nd 4 out, 3 lengths down when left well clear 3 out, won at Uttoxeter 2m 5f nov hcp chs 0-100 (4) hvy in Jan beating It's A Discovery (11-9) by 21l, 10 ran.
Noble Aran (IRE) 40-1 (10-12) Held up towards rear, some headway after 8th, weakened 3 out, tailed off, 5th of 13, well behind Voramar Two (10-12) at Taunton 3m nov hdl (4) gs.
Tanners Court 25-1 (11-4) Led, jumped right 7th, 3 lengths ahead when mistake and unseated rider 3 out, in a race won by Tokpela (11-5) at Uttoxeter 2m 5f nov hcp chs 0-100 (4) hvy in Jan, 10 ran.
