held up towards rear and keen, tracked leaders before 4th, not fluent 10th and 11th, went 2nd 5 out, mistake 4 out and 3 out, not quicken run-in
tracked leader, with leader 6th, led 7th, clear from 2 out, pressed after last, held on well towards finish
in rear, jumped left 8th, soon outpaced, tailed off, pulled up
held up in touch, lost place before 8th
tracked leaders, lost place before 7th, soon outpaced, headway before 3 out, went 3rd from 2 out, no impression
held up towards rear, pushed along and outpaced 8th, went 4th from 3 out, never dangerous
Relax had no problem justifying short odds at Plumpton last time but this is a whole different ball game giving weight to experienced handicappers and the hat-trick may be beyond him. On past evidence, this is STORMHOEK's best trip and Willie Twiston-Davies claims a valuable 7lb. He can get back on the winning trail today with course specialist Rimini struggling for his best this season and Drom still having plenty to prove in this grade. Turbulance has never won over fences under Rules and Back Bob Back still looks too high in the weights, though is preferred to the regressive Francis Du Mesnil.
Relax (FR) 1-3fav (12-2) Keen tracked leader, led 6th, clear 3 out, eased flat, comfortable, won at Plumpton 2m 4f 5yo nov hcp (4) gs beating According To Them (9-11) by 30l, 5 ran.
Back Bob Back (IRE) 7-2 (10-9) Led, hit 1st, ridden and headed 2 out, no chance with winner, stayed on same pace, 2nd of 7, 15l behind Pepite Rose (11-2) at Newbury 2m 2f nov hcp chs 0-130 (3) gd.
Francis Du Mesnil (FR) 25-1 (11-0) Took keen hold, chased leaders, weakened before 3 out, 7th of 11, 7l behind Buckie Boy (11-8) at Taunton 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gd.
Rimini (FR) 11-2 (11-4) Tracked leaders, not fluent 10th, soon outpaced, weakened approaching 5 out, pulled up before 2 out, in a race won by Buffalo Bob (11-12) at Chepstow 2m 3f hcp chs 0-125 (3) sft, 6 ran.
Drom 7-2fav (10-5) Led, not fluent 5th, blundered and unseated rider 7th, in a race won by Satou (10-12) at Towcester 2m 3f nov chs 0-115 (4) gs, 8 ran.
Stormhoek (IRE) 12-1 (11-6) Prominent, lost place 3rd, not fluent next and reminder, not fluent 8th, headway 11th, weakened approaching 2 out, 4th of 8, 19l behind Only Witness (11-6) at Huntingdon 3m hcp chs 0-115 (4) gs in Feb.
Turbulance (IRE) 15-2 (9-13) Chased leaders, slightly lost place briefly approaching 7th, soon on terms again, blundered 13th, weakened from 3 out, left modest 3rd last, 3rd of 9, 28l behind Flying Award (11-1) at Plumpton 3m 2f 5yo Am hcp 0-115 (4) gs in Feb.
