chased leaders, mistakes 1st and 2nd, led after next, mistake and headed 3 out, weakened quickly, modest 4th
led until after 3rd, remained prominent, led again 3 out, headed after next, weakened last
chased leaders, mistake 10th, challenging when hit 2 out, driven to lead approaching last, ran on strongly
close up, pushed along 4 out, driven to challenge 2 out, every chance approaching last, stayed on well
held up in rear, slow 10th, weakened 4 out, behind when pulled up 2 out
held up in rear, slow 10th, soon weakened, behind when pulled up 2 out
held up in rear, struggling 9th, soon tailed off, some headway 2 out, never dangerous
Considering the prize money on offer, this has attracted some potentially useful novice chasers. Jimbill easily justified favouritism at Stratford but will find this tougher under a penalty. Boyfromnowhere won twice over hurdles last season and has already won a point-to-point while Dursey Sound was successful over the smaller obstacles at Uttoxeter and Wetherby around this time last year, though hasn't raced since January. Son Of Flicka is a former Cheltenham Festival winner and Rapid Heat Lad won over timber at this meeting last year and is fit from the Flat. WOODBANK has been very lightly but has ability and fitness is unlikely to be an issue, despite an absence. He makes more appeal than the disappointing Foundry Square and gets a tentative vote.
Jimbill (IRE) 4-6fav (11-6) Tracked leader, led 4th, not fluent 5th or 2 out, comfortably, won at Stratford 2m 4f beg chs (4) gf in Sep beating Another Kate (10-13) by 7l, 6 ran.
Boyfromnowhere (IRE) 16-1 (10-4) Led after 1st, blundered 4th, not fluent next, headed 6th, weakened after 7th, tailed off, 12th of 14, well behind Medinas (10-10) at Ffos Las 2m 4f ltd hcp hdl (2) hvy in Feb.
Dursey Sound (IRE) 7-2 (11-4) Held up in touch, last after 5th, headway when blundered 7th, mistake next, weakened 3 out, pulled up before 2 out, in a race won by The New One (11-7) at Warwick 2m 5f nov hdl Grade 2 (1) sft in Jan, 7 ran.
Foundry Square (IRE) 5-2 (11-6) Led until 4th, chased leader, ridden after 10th, lost 2nd 3 out, weakened before last, 3rd of 6, 21l behind Jimbill (11-6) at Stratford 2m 4f beg chs (4) gf in Sep.
My Friend Riquet (FR) 12-1 (10-1) Held up in rear, headway when not fluent 9th, weakening when not fluent 2 out, 8th of 12, 20l behind Artic Night (10-8) at Worcester 2m 7f hcp hdl 0-100 (5) gd in Sep.
Son Of Flicka 40-1 (11-0) Chased leaders, weakened 5th, tailed off, 12th of 18, well behind Oscara Dara (11-0) at Kempton 2m 5f Listed hcp hdl (1) sft in Jan.
Terry Tibbs (IRE) 12-1 (11-9) In rear, dropped behind and no danger 5 out, last of 8, well behind Whats Happening (11-12) at Limerick 2m 3f beg chase sft in May.
Woodbank 14-1 (11-4) Tracked leaders, not fluent 1st, outpaced 3 out, weakened approaching last, went 3rd flat, 3rd of 10, 19l behind One Term (11-4) at Aintree 2m 1f nh nov hdl (3) gd in May '12.
Rapid Heat Lad (IRE) 9-4 (11-5) Led, clear briefly after 3rd, not fluent and headed 6th, outpaced 3 out, well held 4th 2 out, went 3rd flat, 3rd of 5, 13l behind Tidal Way (10-12) at Bangor 2m 1f 3yo hdl (4) gs in Oct '12.
