held up, smooth headway from over 3f out to lead over 2f out, driven clear final furlong
tracked leaders, headway and going well until ridden over 2f out, gradually weakened
tracked leaders, headway to lead 6f out, ridden and headed over 2f out, soon weakened
close up, hampered and lost place on home bend after 5f, ridden over 3f out, headway to challenge 2f out, driven and no extra final furlong
led until headed 6f out, ridden and still every chance over 3f out, soon weakened
close up, ran green home bend after 5f, ridden over 3f out, soon weakened
tracked leaders until ridden and weakened over 6f out
tracked leader and raced keen, ridden and every chance over 3f out, led briefly over 2f out, soon weakened
BELLVANO catches the eye here with JP Magnier making the journey to ride for his family and the gelding is taken to win ahead of Bunglasha Jake and Red Onion. The selection is a half-brother to a German Listed winner on the level and so he should have the speed for this two mile trip around these tight bends. Nicky Henderson can always ready a newcomer in this sphere and this looks a good starting point. Red Onion was disappointing when beaten last time at the track. That didn't look the strongest race ever but it will be interesting to see whether the money comes again and whether he is ridden with more restraint; he gets lots of weight from his rivals. Threerockmountain is opposable on form but it is interesting that Barry Geraghty hangs around for the ride, whilst Bunglasha Jake is a former winning point-to-pointer over three miles and may need more of a test than this although he is a half-brother to several bumper winners. Barry Connell journeys over again for the ride on his own Pale Rider, whilst Parisian Knight and Exciting Car need to improve on their debut runs. Any money for the Trevor Hemmings-owned Dual Obsession (half-sister to the high class Trabolgan and Huka Lodge) would be interesting, but for the winner we will plump for Bellvano.
Bellvano (GER) Silvano gelding out of Bella Vista.
Bunglasha Jake (IRE) Jolly Jake gelding out of She's No Tourist.
Exciting Car (FR) 8-1 (10-12) Mid-division, smooth headway over 2f out, soon ridden and no impression, 4th of 15, 9l behind Lets Go Girls (10-2) at Kelso 2m 4yo nhf (6) hvy in Jan '08.
Nodforms Violet (IRE) Rashar gelding out of winning bumper Whose Yer Wan.
Pale Rider (IRE) 7-1 (10-11) Led after 3f, headed over 5f out, weakened quickly, last of 10, well behind Sergeant Harper (11-2) at Chepstow 2m nhf (6) gs in Nov.
Parisian Knight (IRE) 100-1 (10-11) Held up, headway 5f out, stayed on one pace final 2f, 5th of 16, 14l behind Stagecoach Pearl (11-1) at Catterick 2m nhf (5) gd in Dec.
Surely Blue (IRE) Blueprint gelding out of Surely Madam.
Dual Obsession Saddlers' Hall mare out of Derrella.
Red Onion 6-4fav (10-7) Led, ridden over 3f out, headed over 2f out, one pace after, 4th of 13, 5l behind Hunters Belt (11-4) at Musselburgh 2m nhf (5) gs in Jan.
Threerockmountain (IRE) 25-1 (11-4) Always towards rear, completely tailed off, 11th of 12, well behind Financialregulator (11-12) at Thurles 2m ldy nhf hvy in Jan.
