held up, headway after 10th, ridden approaching 3 out, soon one pace
towards rear, ridden after 9th, soon weakened, tailed off and pulled up before 2 out
chased leaders until 8th, soon behind, pulled up before 2 out
led until 9th, soon ridden, weakened approaching 3 out
held up, headway 4th, hard ridden to lead soon after 3 out, not fluent 2 out, edged right flat, driven out
chased leader, ridden when mistake 9th, weakening when mistake 10th, behind and pulled up before 2 out
chased leaders, ridden after 10th, weakened 2 out
chased leaders, led 9th, blundered and headed 3 out, soon ridden, 2nd and beaten when mistake last
Cornish Orchard is not guaranteed to reproduce his good recent run at Plumpton but if he does he could be hard to beat and so he gets the tentative vote ahead of Tsar's Twist and Spanchil Hill. Having been dropped 2lbs for that defeat, the selection looks well-weighted to go very close today especially as he appeared suited by the step up in trip last time out. Andrew Glassonbury is a capable jockey and although unable to claim in this race, it still could prove to be a profitable partnership. Tsar's Twist has plenty of experience over hurdles in his favour and having run fairly well over course and distance before, he looks a live danger on ground that suits. Spanchil Hill has been given a break since his last run over fences and returns to hurdling off a 20lb lower mark than over fences. That alone means that he deserves plenty of respect and with trip and ground to suit, he really could be capable of a big run. Dawn At Sea looks the best of Kate Waldron's pair but in truth neither jumps out as a bet, and so for the winner we will tentatively return to Cornish Orchard as the selection.
Iberus (GER) 33-1 (10-9) Chased leaders to 3 out, last of 15, 44l behind Dishdasha (10-9) at Stratford 2m ldy hcp hdl (4) gd in Oct.
Monash Lad (IRE) 12-1 (10-9) Tracked leaders, keen, ridden, weakened 3 out, 6th of 10, 14l behind Shropshirelass (9-13) at Ludlow 2m sll hdl (5) gf.
Dawn At Sea 20-1 (11-3) Held up, ridden 4th, soon weakened and pulled up 4 out in race won by Milton Des Bieffes (11-5) at Warwick 2m 3f nov hcp hdl 0-90 (5) hvy in Dec, 13 ran.
Tsar's Twist 8-1 (9-13) Led, bumped along from 3 out, headed approaching 2 out, kept on same pace from 2 out, 6th of 19, 29l behind Thenford Star (10-2) at Wincanton 2m 6f nov hcp hdl 0-100 (4) gs in Nov.
Bite Un Fight 10-1 (10-8) Always towards rear, no impression, 15th of 18, well behind Wild Tonto (10-5) at Wincanton 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-95 (5) sft in Mar.
Cornish Orchid (IRE) 11-1 (10-1) Chased leaders, went 2nd 11th, led 3 out, headed before 2 out, one pace under pressure from next, 2nd of 8, 3 1/2l behind Blueland (11-3) at Plumpton 3m 1f hcp hdl 0-95 (5) gf.
Spanchil Hill 10-3fav (10-8) Held up towards rear, headway 12th, ridden 13th, weakened 4 out, 5th of 10, 19l behind Fluff 'n' Puff (10-5) at Taunton 2m 7f hcp chs 0-105 (4) gd in Oct.
Bring On The Bling (IRE) 33-1 (10-0) Mid-division, slow jump 2nd, ridden 5th, struggling from 3 out, 7th of 13, 20l behind Ricardo's Chance (11-1) at Hereford 2m 4f nov sll hdl (5) gf in Mar.
