tracked leaders in 3rd, soon with leader, hit 4th, led next, headed approaching and blundered last, kept on
held up in rear, headway approaching 3 out, went 3rd 2 out, one pace after last, weakened and lost 3rd place final 100 yards
held up towards rear, pushed along after 6th, weakened next
held up in mid-division, went 2nd after 7th, not fluent 2 out led approaching next, kept on, driven out
tracked leaders in 3rd, weakened approaching 3 out, tailed off
held up towards rear, tracked leaders after 5th, kept on from last, took 3rd place final 100 yards, no impression
led to 5th, blundered 7th, soon weakened, pulled up before last, tailed off
held up in touch, reminders after 5th, weakened from 7th
On what could be a very productive day for trainer James Ewart, we'll side with him again here in the form of TCHIKITA, while Bob's Dream, Nonotreally and Ormello are all respected. The selection looks another potentially progressive type, with two runs so far, both on soft ground. There is plenty of hope then that she will handle this heavier surface, and the form of her run behind Diklers Oscar at Newcastle last time looks good in the context of this, while she is clearly unexposed. We will give her the vote on grounds of promise. Bob's Return likes it here, having won a handicap chase at the track in November when rated 107. He races here from a 5lbs lower mark and he looks likely to be very competitive, though the fact that he has never yet won over hurdles is somewhat offputting. Nonotreally was well beaten when last seen here in the spring, but his previous effort behind Sir Tantallus Hawk on soft ground would entitle him to get heavily involved and after only a few races he should be fresh enough. However, we are guessing as to whether his trainer can have him fit enough after that break to win this today. Ormello looks well handicapped on his chase form but is not as effective over hurdles, though he does have the ground in his favour. Pillar Of Hercules looks in need of better ground, while Midnite Blews looks handicapped to the hilt and we'll side with Tchikita.
Sotovik (IRE) 50-1 (11-0) Jumped right, prominent, led before 4th, headed 2 out, soon weakened, 7th of 14, 25l behind Dan Buoy (10-12) at Southwell 3m hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gs in Jan.
Pillar of Hercules (IRE) 33-1 (11-2) Held up in rear, ridden after 3 out, never dangerous, last of 13, well behind Mcmurdo Sound (10-11) at Perth 2m hcp hdl 0-120 (3) gf in Sep.
Tchikita (FR) 8-1 (10-11) Tracked winner, challenged 4 out, ridden and outpaced 2 out, lost 2nd flat, 3rd of 16, 12l behind Diklers Oscar (11-2) at Newcastle 2m mdn hdl (4) sft in Jan.
Bob's Dream (IRE) 11-2 (9-13) Reminders after 2nd, behind, headway approaching 2 out, soon weakened, pulled up before last, in a race won by Open de L'Isle (10-9) at Hexham 2m hcp hdl 0-135 (3) hvy in Dec, 13 ran.
Nonotreally 9-1 (10-9) Tracked leader, every chance 3 out, ridden and weakened from next, 4th of 16, 31l behind Touch of Irish (11-0) at Kelso 2m nh nov hdl (4) gd in Mar.
Ormello (FR) 16-1 (11-9) Close up, weakened approaching 5 out, 6th of 8, 43l behind Bleak House (11-7) at Doncaster 2m hcp chs 0-130 (3) gs in Jan.
Midnite Blews (IRE) 25-1 (10-13) Close up, led 2nd, headed 3 out, weakening when unseated rider 2 out, in a race won by Stagecoach Pearl (11-5) at Doncaster 2m nov hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gd in Dec, 18 ran.
Daniel's Dream 100-1 (10-0) Prominent, driven and lost place after 4 out, weakened from next, 12th of 18, 33l behind Vecchio Senso (10-10) at Wetherby 2m hcp hdl 0-100 (4) sft.
