with leader, hit 4th, led 6th until next, reminders after 10th, every chance approaching 3 out, no impression on winner from next, scrapped for 2nd until towards finish
tracked leaders, hit 5th, not fluent 10th, ridden to lead 3 out, went right next, clear last, stayed on
led until 6th, led next until 3 out, no impression on winner next, won battle for 2nd towards finish
tracked leaders, not fluent 7th, hit and stumbled 9th, struggling after, tailed off
Just four runners line up for this beginners' chase and every one of the quartet has claims but Kim Bailey's Sarde is probably too high in the weights at present having looked held before falling two outings ago before being well held at Uttoxeter last time so a better bet may be TEDDY'S REFLECTION, who is preferred to Baren De Doc. Tim Vaughan's gelding ran below par over hurdles at Ffos Las last month but had ran well in his two starts prior to that both over fences and he has to be considered back over the larger obstacles today having earned a rating of 116. Michael Smith's Texas Holdem is only rated 102 so according to the official BHA ratings he needs to improve to trouble the judge but he was still going well before falling five out at Ayr last time so cannot be discounted. Teddy's Reflection was also a faller on his most recent start, coming down at the sixth fence at Doncaster at the beginning of the month but Henrietta Knight's gelding had shown enough in two previous starts over fences to suggest that he would be more than capable of taking the honours in a race of this nature.
Baren De Doc (IRE) 10-1 (11-3) Led, hit 4th, headed 6th, soon ridden and weakened after next, tailed off, 8th of 11, well behind City Theatre (11-8) at Ffos Las 2m 4f NH nov hdl (4-7yo) (4) gs in Feb.
Sarde (FR) 9-1 (10-7) Held up towards rear, headway approaching 11th, close enough in 4th when blundered 4 out, soon weakened, tailed off, 4th of 11, 48l behind Carrickmines (10-9) at Uttoxeter 3m nov hcp chs (3) sft.
Teddy's Reflection (IRE) 8-1 (10-12) Tracked leaders in 3rd on outer when fell 6th, in a race won by Fortysecond Street (10-12) at Doncaster 2m 3f nov chs (3) gd, 5 ran.
Texas Holdem (IRE) 10-1 (11-0) Tracked leaders in 3rd, went 2nd when fell 5 out, in a race won by Gilsland (11-0) at Ayr 3m 1f beg chase (4) gf, 3 ran.
