led and soon clear, not fluent and headed 8th, remained close up until weakened 4 out, pulled up after 3 out
tracked leader, led 8th, clear when hit 3 out, easily
tracked leaders, hit 3rd, lost place and towards rear when blundered and unseated rider 6th
held up towards rear, pushed along approaching 5th, outpaced approaching 4 out, went poor 3rd 2 out, blundered last
in touch, went 2nd 4 out, no impression on winner from next
in rear, mistake 1st, pushed along approaching 7th, weakened approaching 10th, tailed when and fell next
held up towards rear, headway to go in touch from 5th, weakened from 3 out
Little Rocker has struggled in five starts since winning this event 12 months ago and is likely to do so again in a race taken to go to the consistent WHIZZAAR, who gets the vote over Roby De Cimbre. The last mentioned is the pick of the runners judged by official BHA ratings but disappointed when last seen under rules when pulled up at Newton Abbot in August, however, he ran much better when landing a point-to-point last month and the seven-year-old has to be respected back under rules following that performance. Ian Prichard's Alroyal has run to a decent level of form in recent starts, while Lady Myfanwy is capable but has disappointed of late. Polly Gundry's runners always warrant respect in this grade and her runner, Takotna, is no exception but she was pulled up on her latest start under rules and has not given much sign of encouragement in points subsequently so looks best watched. The vote then goes the way of Whizzaar, who has been running consistently well in recent starts in finding just one too good in his last two starts in races at Taunton and Leicester and he can go one better today.
Roby De Cimbre (FR) 4-7 (12-10) (tt) pulled hrd; led 6; clr 10; easy, won at North Carlton 3m ptp gf in Feb beating Jackson (12-0) by 25l, 3 ran.
Whizzaar 11-2 (12-1) Mid-division, headway 5th, chased winner 9th until 14th and again before 4 out, no impression, 2nd of 12, 13l behind Marblehead (11-9) at Leicester 2m 7f hts chs (3) gd.
Alroyal (GER) 50-1 (11-9) In rear, mistake 2nd, headway 12th, mistake 4 out, soon hung left, strong challenge last, no extra towards finish, 3rd of 10, 4l behind Gentle George (12-2) at Newbury 2m 6f hts chs (6) gs.
Little Rocker (IRE) 66-1 (11-7) Held up towards rear, badly hampered 6th, mistake 7th, headway 9th, mistake 13th, weakened approaching 4 out, 5th of 12, 36l behind Marblehead (11-9) at Leicester 2m 7f hts chs (3) gd.
Lady Myfanwy 22-1 (11-4) Held up towrards rear, brought down 6th, in a race won by Marblehead (11-9) at Leicester 2m 7f hts chs (3) gd, 12 ran.
Obama's Delight 8-1 (12-0) Mid div, pu 10th, in a race won by Bennative (12-0) at Tinahely 3m ire ptp in Feb, 15 ran.
Some Timbering (IRE) 7-4 (12-0) Mist 14; qckly lost tch; pu nxt, in a race won by Maranach (12-3) at Whitwick Manor 3m ptp in Feb, 10 ran.
Takotna (IRE) 15-2 (10-7) Led 8 til hdd 3 out; no ex, 2nd of 5, 12l behind Innocent Rebel (11-0) at Wadebridge 3m ptp.
