pulled hard in rear, smooth headway from 3 out, shaken up from 2 out, stayed on strongly
led, headed after 4th, weakened approaching 4 out
held up, blundered 6th, headway 4 out, led next, shaken up and ran on well
tracked leaders, mistake 6th, weakened approaching 2 out
held up in touch, tracked leaders 6th, every chance approaching 3 out, soon faded
tracked leaders, outpaced 6th, rallied and headway and jumped left 3 out, chased winner next, stayed on same pace
Venetia Williams' string are in flying form and she can score again with Lorient Express, who gets the nod over Pure Brief and Argento. The last named is a game and consistent performer that should run his race. He jumps well and is likely to make this a good test for the rest. Garry Moore is the latest trainer charged with getting the best out of Lewis Island and he will obviously be hoping for a bold show from the top weight. However, he was a moderate third on his debut for his new yard last month and has improvement to find from somewhere. Pure Brief looks a more reliable option to give the selection a run for the money, as he at least has a recent win to his name. Nevertheless, he was well held off this mark last time and has a bit more on his plate today. Especially if Lorient Express continues to show the exuberant form shown by some of his stablemates during the last week or so. Sam Thomas gets on well with the six-year-old and the partnership look the percentage call judged on the recent evidence available.
Lewis Island (IRE) 8-1 (11-5) Pulled hard, held up, hampered 4th and soon tracked leading pair, outpaced after 4 out, 3rd of 5, 35l behind Big Moment (11-5) at Plumpton 2m 1f beg chs (D) gs in Nov.
Argento 6-1 (11-5) Held up in touch, headway to go 4th 5f out, one pace from 3f out, 3rd of 10, 12l behind Polar Gunner (11-1) at Wetherby 2m hcp chs 0-125 (D) gs in Nov.
Log On Intersky (IRE) 10-1 (11-7) Held up in touch, lost place approaching 5th, soon tailed off and pulled up 3 out in race won by Magnificent Seven (10-3) at Market Rasen 2m 6f hcp chs 0-120 (D) sft, 6 ran.
Lorient Express (FR) 7-2co-fav (10-7) Held up, mistake 8th, good headway to track leaders next, led going well before 2 out, in command last, comfortably, won at Folkestone 2m hcp chs 0-115 (D) gf in Nov beating Winsley (11-12) by 2 1/2l, 8 ran.
Jodante (IRE) 9-1 (11-10) Held up, headway 7th, weakened approaching 4 out, well behind when pulled up 3 out in race won by Danish Decorum (11-10) at Uttoxeter 2m hcp chs 0-110 (E) gd in May, 10 ran.
Bob's Buster 9-2 (11-5) Held up, in rear, headway 5 out to track leaders, ridden 4 out, weakening when mistake 2 out, 4th of 6, 26l behind Oso Magic (11-12) at Newcastle 2m hcp chs 0-105 (E) gs in Nov.
Pure Brief (IRE) 15-2 (10-10) In touch, ridden after 4 out, one pace from last, 3rd of 10, 10l behind Bergerac (11-7) at Catterick 2m hcp chs 0-105 (E) gd in Nov.
