mid-division, not fluent 2nd, effort 7th, one pace from 3 out
soon pushed along, never dangerous
towards rear, ridden 6th, soon behind
made all, mistake and challenged 2 out, ran on again towards last
tracked leader until weakened approaching 2 out
always in rear
tracked leaders, chased winner from 3 out, close up 2 out, no impression from last
tracked leaders, jumped right 3rd, hung left and jumped right approaching 4th, pulled up soon after
in touch, weakened after 4 out
outpaced, lost touch from 5th, stayed on from 3 out, nearest at finish
RAPID INCREASE can finally show his ability here and gets the selection while Raysrock should be respected on his handicap debut and Pret A Thou is also considered. Although Jonjo O'Neill's charge has not shown his true ability over fences he was a winning hurdler off a mark 10lbs higher than he carries on his chase handicap debut here so these terms look ripe for a marked improvement. Raysrock was a winning novice hurler and has put in some solid efforts since joining the chasing ranks. He's been assigned top weight here but his mark looks fair and the form from his last effort has since been franked. Pret A Thou has continued running well since taking his only career win on his only visit at this track and over distance. He's suffered under his higher mark since and may still need a bit of a reprieve. Sarah¿s Gift looks interesting off a featherweight after some decent efforts recently while Scalini's and Omme Antique have enough about them to be considered but Rapid Increase has the terms in his favour.
Raysrock (IRE) 5-2 (10-9) Tracked leaders, mistake 6th, third and outpaced when pecked 5 out, ridden and no impression from next, 4th of 8, 16l behind Kealshore Boy (11-2) at Newcastle 2m 4f beg chs (4) gs in Nov.
Rapid Increase (IRE) 8-1 (11-0) Held up, never dangerous, mistake 4 out, 5th of 9, 28l behind Idarah (11-0) at Ludlow 2m beg chs (4) sft in Jan.
Silver Sister 25-1 (10-7) Prominent, ridden after 3 out, one pace, 6th of 12, 15l behind King Caine (11-9) at Taunton 2m 1f clm hdl (5) hvy.
Pret A Thou (FR) 9-1 (10-9) Pulled hard, headway 6th, mistake 3 out, weakening when not fluent 2 out, 4th of 13, 15l behind Fresh Air And Fun (11-5) at Ludlow 2m 4f hcp chs 0-115 (4) sft in Jan.
Omme Antique (FR) 9-1 (10-13) In touch, weakened after 4 out and pulled up 2 out in race won by Supreme Keano (10-11) at Towcester 2m 5f nov hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gs in Dec, 15 ran.
Scalini's (IRE) 5-1 (11-7) In touch, ridden 10th, weakened 4 out, tailed off when pulled up 3 out in race won by Take It There (11-6) at Taunton 2m 3f nov hcp chs 0-95 (5) gs in Dec, 12 ran.
Shake The Barley (IRE) 12-1 (11-5) Towards rear, ridden and effort 4 out, 4th and weakening when fell at the last in race won by Solid As A Rock (10-2) at Taunton 2m 7f hcp chs 0-105 (4) gs in Dec, 15 ran.
Jamesdoubleyou 66-1 (10-11) With leader, led 3rd, ridden and headed 3 out, weakened approaching last, 6th of 13, 19l behind Royal Rationale (10-9) at Chepstow 2m mdn hdl (5) gd in Apr.
Phoenix Eye 100-1 (11-0) Held up, effort 4 out, jumping right and weakened 3 out, 6th of 9, 33l behind Idarah (11-0) at Ludlow 2m beg chs (4) sft in Jan.
Sarahs Gift (IRE) 11-2 (10-2) Led, headed 7th, weakened 4 out, 4th of 7, 11l behind Amble Forge (11-5) at Chepstow 2m nov hcp chs 0-100 (4) gs in Nov.
Mud Monkey 100-1 (10-7) Led 3rd to 7th, weakened 11th, no chance when blundered badly and pulled up 3 out in race won by Planet of Sound (11-4) at Newbury 2m 2f nov chs (3) sft in Jan, 8 ran.
