tracked leaders, hit 9th, left in lead after 11th, headed 14th, ridden and one pace from 3 out
tracked leaders, led 5th, weakened 13th, behind when pulled up 2 out, b.b.v
behind from 11th, blundered when behind 14th
in touch, led 8th, sprawled on landing after 11th (water), soon pulled up
tracked leaders, jumped left 4th, led from 14th, ridden when headed and jumped right 2 out, one pace
in touch , blundered badly and lost place 5th, mistake 7th, steady headway from 14th, weakening when blundered 3 out
led, headed 5th, led again briefly 10th, ridden and outpaced 4 out, kept on
help up, close order 5th, ridden to chase leaders 4 out and hit, led 2 out, kept on
The Lyme Volunteer is taken to score here with Kjetil, Bak To Bill and Researcher rated as the main dangers. The selection won well last time out at Hereford when beating Lets Go Dutch. That signaled a return to form as she had not won for two years prior to that race and now that she has regained the winning thread she may be worth following. Kjetil was disappointing last time out when down the field behind Pretty Star but he is stepped up in trip here and if he sees out this longer trip on his first attempt over this far then he could go well. Bak To Bill was a fair fifth behind Beau Supreme over this course and distance last time but that was a better race than this so he is entitled to get more competitive in this company. Researcher will be suited by the step up in trip but she has failed to convince with her jumping and on that basis we will take her on. This is an interesting contest but we are happy to side The Lyme Volunteer who looks the one to beat.
Bak To Bill 14-1 Tracked leaders to 15th, soon weakened, 5th of 10, 30l behind Beau Supreme at Ludlow 3m hcp chs 0-125 (D) gd.
Clever Thyne (IRE) 7-1 Held up, mistake 1st, behind when pulled up at the 8th in race won by Beau Supreme at Ludlow 3m hcp chs 0-125 (D) gd, 10 ran.
Gumley Gale 33-1 Always behind, blundered and lost touch 9th, tailed off, 4th of 7, 42l behind Comply Or Die at Cheltenham 3m nov chs (B) gd in Nov.
Thieves'glen 9-2 Chased leaders, mistake 6th, challeneged 10th, weakened next, blundered 4 out and pulled up 3 out in race won by Gazump at Newbury 2m 2f nov hcp chs 0-125 (C) gs, 6 ran.
Kentford Grebe 20-1 Mid-division, ridden when hit 3 out, weakened next, 7th of 10, 23l behind Bongo Fury at Sandown 2m mrs hcp hdl (C) gs in Jan.
Researcher 33-1 Held up, headway 12th, ridden 4 out, stayed on from 2 out, never reached leaders, 3rd of 14, 10l behind Cetti's Warbler at Uttoxeter 2m 5f mrs hcp chs (A) gs.
Kjetil (USA) 7-2jt-fav Lost place after 4th, effort and ridden after 4 out, one pace and no impression when hit 2 out and last, 6th of 13, 14l behind Pretty Star at Newbury 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-125 (D) gs.
