held up in touch, headway to chase winner approaching 3 out, no impression from next
made all, clear approaching 2 out, 13 lengths clear when blundered badly last
tracked leaders, pushed along approaching 7th, weakened approaching 3 out, pulled up soon after
held up in rear, headway approaching 7th, in 4th when fell heavily 3 out
jumped right 1st and 2nd, tracked winner until weakened approaching and hampered 3 out
held in touch, went 3rd 3 out, weakened next
Peter Bowen's Taffy Thomas won well when successful at Ffos Las in January but he disappointed under the penalty for that win on a return visit to the Welsh track the following month and may do so again today in a race where it may be worth taking a chance with NO TEARS, who gets the vote with the main danger rated as Five Out Of Five. The Evan Williams-trained gelding did not show much in two starts in points in Ireland but ran much better on his rules debut in a bumper at Downpatrick before switching to the Williams stable and running encouragingly in two starts in novice hurdles at Lingfield and Ludlow. He should be thereabouts again but may have to settle for minor honours behind the selection. Anabel King's Holy Balloney has run creditably in bumpers but is likely to do better over further now sent over hurdles and of more interest may be Simon Earle's Uttoxeter bumper winner Red Not Blue, who was outclassed in a better quality bumper at Cheltenham last time and now makes his debut over hurdles. No Tears was well beaten on his first start over timber when well held on desperate ground at Chepstow in December but Alan King's gelding had won well in his only previous start in a point in Ireland and looks worth another chance racing on more suitable ground.
Taffy Thomas 6-1 (11-8) Close up, chased leaders, approaching 3 out, weakened before next, 8th of 11, 37l behind Universal Soldier (11-2) at Ffos Las 2m 4f NH nov hdl (4-7yo) (4) gs in Feb.
Five Out Of Five (IRE) 12-1 (11-2) In touch, led 6th, headed approaching 3 out, 3rd and beaten when hit last and lost hind legs on landing, weakened flat, 4th of 12, 19l behind Great Reason (11-2) at Ludlow 2m NH mdn hdl (4) sft in Feb.
Holy Balloney 9-1 (10-7) Mid-division, raced keenly, headway over 6f out, weakened final furlong, 4th of 12, 23l behind L'eldorado (11-0) at Towcester 2m NH flat (5) sft in Nov.
No Tears (IRE) 15-2 (11-0) Keen hold in mid-division, ridden and weakening when hit 3 out, tailed off, 10th of 13, well behind Be There In Five (11-0) at Chepstow 2m 4f mdn hdl (4) hvy in Dec.
Red Not Blue (IRE) 14-1 (11-4) Held up in mid-division, well beaten over 2f out, 6th of 8, 25l behind Ghizao (11-4) at Cheltenham 2m NH flat Listed (1) sft in Nov.
Terfel's Toscar (IRE) 28-1 (10-11) Held up towards rear, chased leaders after 4 out, weakened next, 12th of 13, well behind My Friend Sandy (11-0) at Chepstow 2m 4f mdn hdl (4) sft in Nov.
Brookfieldshector (IRE) 150-1 (10-12) Tracked leader to 2nd, lost place 3rd, lost touch approaching 6th, tailed off next, pulled up before 3 out, in a race won by Abbevillian (10-12) at Ludlow 2m 5f NH nov hdl 4-6yo (4) sft in Nov, 9 ran.
The Grifter 33-1 (11-0) In touch and keen, ridden and weakened over 3f out, 10th of 15, 31l behind Tataniano (11-0) at Chepstow 2m NH flat (6) gd in Oct '08.
