held up in rear, steady headway to track leading pair from 9th, led on bit, approaching 2 out, soon clear, canter
held up last, steady headway to track leading trio after 3 out, close up next, soon ridden and weakened quickly
chased leaders, jumped left 7th and driven next, effort to chase leaders 9th, stumbled 3 out, ridden to chase winner from 2 out, but no impression, weakened and lost 2nd run-in
tracked leaders, outpaced after 3 out, stayed on under pressure approaching last, took 2nd flat, no chance with winner
led, hit 5th, hard ridden after 3 out, headed and weakened approaching 2 out
chased leader, mistake 5th, reminder after next, ridden and lost place 8th, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out
held up in 5th, outpaced 9th, stayed on approaching 2 out, went 3rd run-in, not pace to challenge
Celtic Son looks to face a fairly straightforward task here and gets the vote ahead of Versus and Mesmeric. The selection has shown much improved form since being stepped up in trip and sent handicapping rattling off four wins in his last five starts, latterly when running out the three-length winner of a handicap at Warwick off a mark of 121. Now rated 135, Martin Pipe's gelding has 12lbs in hand over Mesmeric judged by official BHB ratings and is hard to oppose. Mesmeric himself has been running with credit in handicaps but faces no easy task receiving just 4lbs from Celtic Son. Charlie Mann's Versus has struggled under a penalty in his last two starts and may do so again, although he still makes more appeal than the remainder of who the unexposed Definite Approach may be the pick. Celtic Son has an obvious chance though and cannot be opposed.
Celtic Son (FR) 2-1 Held up in rear, headway 8th, led approaching 2 out, clear last, readily, won at Warwick 3m 1f hcp hdl (B) sft in Jan beating Touch Closer by 3l, 14 ran.
Mesmeric (IRE) 7-1 Held up mid-division, not trouble leaders, 10th of 18, 11l behind Junkanoo at Huntingdon 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-120 (D) gd in Jan.
Versus (GER) 9-2 Tracked leaders, challenged 3 out, readily outpaced before 2 out, 3rd of 8, 13l behind Reflected Glory at Plumpton 3m 1f nov hdl (D) sft in Jan.
Definite Approach (IRE) 7-1 4th of 22, 3l behind Lorikeet at Punchestown 2m nhf gf in Oct '03.
Frosty's Cousin (IRE) 50-1 Tracked leaders until weakened 6th, 6th of 12, well behind Mount Clerigo at Wetherby 2m 4f nh nov hdl (D) sft in Jan.
Sylvan Shack (IRE) 25-1 Took keen hold, not jump well, held up until weakened 10th, tailed off when pulled up 2 out in race won by Meggie's Beau at Leicester 2m 7f mdn chs (E) gs, 8 ran.
The Bosun 66-1 Held up, pushed along 7th, soon struggling, tailed off, 5th of 9, 37l behind Whist Drive at Folkestone 2m 6f nov hdl (E) sft in Jan.
