mid-division, outpaced 5 out, ridden and kept on approaching 2 out, went modest 3rd approaching last, no chance with front pair
chased clear pair to 6th, in touch, driven 8th, soon lost place, reminders after 10th, not fluent next, rallied 3 out, soon ridden, went 2nd next, challenged last, stayed on to lead towards finish
pressed leader, reminder before 11th, led 4 out, soon ridden and headed, lost place 2 out, weakened before last
towards rear, headway 7th, chased leaders 10th, outpaced 4 out, no impression in 4th when not fluent 2 out
soon behind, struggling 10th, never reached leaders
led, headed 4 out, soon ridden and lost place, no impression from next, weakened before last
in rear, struggling 10th, never dangerous
mid-division, chased leading pair 6th, not fluent 12th, led after 4 out, blundered next, soon ridden, hard pressed last, kept on until headed and no extra towards finish
towards rear, struggling 10th, soon lost touch and pulled up
Popaflora won over a shorter trip here in May of last year but is still 8lb higher and needs some help from the handicapper. Moneymix is also 8lb higher than when winning a weak race at Fakenham last month and course winner Sitting Back is also high enough in the weights but Attimo is relatively unexposed and capable of bouncing back from a modest effort at Warwick. STRAWBERRY HILL found 2m too short on his reappearance at Taunton but that run suggests he's on a decent mark at present and, as he's won here in the past, he heads the short-list today.
Attimo (GER) 5-1 (11-9) In rear, not fluent 2nd or 10th, behind 11th, pulled up before 13th, in a race won by It's A Steal (11-11) at Warwick 2m 4f hcp chs 0-110 (4) sft in Dec, 8 ran.
Strawberry Hill (IRE) 11-4fav (11-12) Led until after 5th, chased leader, led again 4 out until 3 out, lost 2nd before 2 out, rallied to regain 2nd towards finish, no chance with winner, 2nd of 5, 9l behind Diamond Tammy (10-10) at Taunton 2m hcp ch 0-110 (4) sft.
Popaflora 5-1 (11-7) Chased winner throughout, outpaced 3 out (usual 4 out), no chance with easy winner after, 2nd of 6, 14l behind Bravo Riquet (10-9) at Plumpton 2m 4f hcp chs 0-105 (4) sft in Jan.
Bally Gunner 25-1 (11-10) Held up, not fluent 1st, in touch when mistake and unseated rider 9th, in a race won by Jolly Boys Outing (9-9) at Towcester 2m 6f hcp 0-100 (5) gs in Dec, 6 ran.
Morestead (IRE) 9-1 (10-3) Led until 4th, chased leader until before next, reminder after 6th, soon struggling, tailed off next, 6th of 9, well behind Benability (10-9) at Fontwell 2m 4f hcp hdl (5) sft in Dec.
Dancing Dik 33-1 (10-9) Prominent until 9th, weakened before 11th, 9th of 13, well behind Valid Point (11-9) at Leicester 2m 4f hcp ch 0-110 (4) sft in Jan.
Moneymix 2-1fav (10-5) Held up in rear but in touch, chased leaders 5th, went 2nd 3 out, every chance next, led approaching last, ran on well, won at Fakenham 2m 5f hcp chs 0-100 (5) sft in Jan beating Alright Benny (11-12) by 4l, 5 ran.
Sitting Back (IRE) 7-1 (10-4) Led, 6 lengths clear 7th, reduced lead 12th, joined 2 out, ridden and headed bend before last, kept on one pace, 2nd of 4, 8l behind Shinooki (11-11) at Fakenham 2m 5f nov hcp chs 0-100 (5) sft in Jan.
Willy Be Lucky (IRE) 16-1 (10-5) In touch, pushed along into moderate 3rd before 2 out, no chance with front pair, 3rd of 6, 32l behind Bravo Riquet (12-5) at Plumpton 2m 1f hcp chs 0-100 (5) hvy in Jan.
