tracked leader, challenged 2 out, stayed on to lead narrowly last, soon ridden, headed and no extra flat
led, ridden 2 out, headed last, kept on under pressure flat
tracked leaders, outpaced 3 out, ridden and kept on same pace from next, no impression
held up in rear, driven and outpaced approaching 3 out, soon beaten, tailed off
held up in touch, headway when left 3rd 3 out, challenged and every chance next, ridden and stayed on to lead flat
raced wide, in touch, joined leaders after 4 out, 3rd and every chance when fell next
Another very good contest for us where CHOMBA WOMBA, Zaravina and Amber Brook look the three against the field and we will side with Nicky Henderson's mare. The Seven Barrows trainer and Tony McCoy have had a very fruitful winter when combining and Chomba Womba can claim another decent prize for them. The eight-year-old relishes cut in the ground and the Town Moor surface will bring her stamina into play. She won this race last year and has plenty in hand on official ratings, so it will be a bit of a surprise if she is beaten. Amber Brook looks likely to present the strongest opposition but has 7lbs to find at these weights. She stays three miles and will want this to be run at a good clip to be seen to best effect. Two miles on soft ground suits Helens Vision but she has plenty to find on the book and a place in the frame appears to be her best hope. Wherever she finishes then Theatre Belle should not be far away, and she is another who would prefer a strong pace as a regular over 2m 4f. Zaravina is much respected on her raid from Ireland. The form of her Cork maiden win is hard to assess but trip and ground will suit and she was not disgraced in a Grade 1 hurdle at Leopardstown over Christmas and that is probably good enough to at least give the favourite something to think about. Chomba Womba is the one for us.
Chomba Womba (IRE) 11-2 (11-1) Held up behind leaders, ridden after 3 out, stayed on to go 3rd approaching last, not pace of leaders, 3rd of 5, 17l behind Binocular (11-4) at Ascot 2m hdl Grd 2 (1) gs in Dec.
Helens Vision 13-2 (10-9) Led to 2nd, chased leader, ridden approaching 3 out, soon weakened, 6th of 12, 26l behind United (11-7) at Haydock 2m 4f hcp hdl (2) sft in Dec.
Amber Brook (IRE) 5-2 (10-12) Held up in last trio, headway 9th, challenged 2 out, soon ridden, kept on same pace from last, 2nd of 7, 3 1/2l behind One Gulp (11-2) at Kempton 3m mrs lst nov hdl (1) gd in Nov.
Mini Minster 10-3 (10-5) Close up, led 3rd, headed briefly between last 2, stayed on strongly flat, won at Hexham 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-125 (3) hvy in May beating Cadoudalas (11-1) by 9l, 10 ran.
Pagan Starprincess 12-1 (11-5) Mid-division, headway to chase leader when left in lead 2 out, ridden and kept on flat, won at Newcastle 2m hcp hdl 0-135 (3) sft in Dec beating Pay Attention (11-7) by 1 1/2l, 11 ran.
Zarinava (IRE) 14-1 (11-2) Held up, closer 2 out, 5th entering straight, ridden to challenge last where slight mistake, no extra in 3rd run-in, kept on same pace, 3rd of 7, 11l behind Hurricane Fly (11-7) at Leopardstown 2m nov hdl Grd 1 sft in Dec.
Theatre Belle 14-1 (10-11) In touch, ridden to challenge 3 out, led last, kept on, headed towards finish, 2nd of 11, shd behind Harmony Brig (11-0) at Ayr 2m 4f hcp hdl (2) sft.
Zahra's Place 14-1 (11-0) Held up towards rear, ridden after 5th, headway when blundered badly and hampered 2 out, no impression, 6th of 13, 8l behind Princess Flame (10-10) at Leicester 2m hcp hdl 0-125 (3) sft in Dec.
