blundered 1st and next, always in rear, ridden 10th, soon well behind, tailed off when blundered 4 out
blundered 1st, chased leaders until lost place 8th, headway to chase leaders when hit 13th, stayed on same pace from next
chased leaders, left 2nd 12th, led 4 out, stayed on well from next
led, ridden along from 9th, blundered 13th, headed 4 out, ridden and hit next, no chance with winner before 2 out
blundered 2nd, in touch, mistake 4th, headway to chase leaders 10th, half a length down in 2nd when fell 12th
chased leaders until mistake and ridden 8th, soon lost place, badly hampered 12th, no chance when hit 13th, tailed off
rear, went moderate for 3 out, no chance when went lame and pulled up 2 out
It's tempting to side with Apollo Creed but his form looks a bit Rocky and so we will plump for OH BRAGA whose trainer won this last year with Island Flyer. The selection certainly hasn't been foot-perfect so far over fences, but he bounced back from being pulled up on his debut to win tidily last time at the track. He tries a new trip today but he promises to stay and with the Iron Man Tony McCoy in the saddle a big run is expected. If he is unable to conquer his 8lb rise in the weights, then it may pay to side with Very Cool. David Pipe's well-related son of Sir Harry Lewis has a good strike-rate and has taken well to fences. Considering he was rated 130 over hurdles, it is surprising that he was able to resume chasing off a mark of 94. Two wins and 22lbs later, he still looks to hold a solid chance at a track that he evidently enjoys going to(2 from 2). Picts Hill was largely ignored in the betting last time but Anthony Honeyball's gelding is progressing well. One worry would be that his best runs recently have come on soft ground; however he does have some good hurdles form on quicker going. Hill Forts Timmy and Apollo Creed both looks to be high enough in the weights, so punters may have to Weathers the storm and suffer some knockouts before they can be winning again. Treasury Counsel is blinkered for the first-time and warrants respect for a trainer who has a profitable 21% strike-rate at the track, but it is Oh Braga who is selected.
Apollo Creed (IRE) 11-1 (10-0) Held up in touch, weakening when blundered 3 out, 6th of 8, 29l behind Out The Black (10-0) at Doncaster 3m 2f hcp chs (2) gf in Feb.
Hill Forts Timmy 18-1 (11-12) Chased leaders, ridden to challenge 3 out, driven after 2 out, no extra before last, 3rd of 5, 7l behind Oh Braga (10-7) at Newbury 2m 2f nov hcp chs 0-125 (3) gd in Feb.
Picts Hill 13-2 (11-8) Led, headed 2nd, led again 8th, in command and unchallenged from 14th, won at Wincanton 2m 5f nov hcp chs 0-120 (3) sft beating Honour's Dream (11-6) by 24l, 5 ran.
Very Cool 11-4fav (10-8) Made all, pushed along from 4 out, driven and stayed on well flat, gamely, won at Newbury 2m 6f nov hcp chs 0-125 (3) gd in Feb beating South Bank (10-9) by 1 1/2l, 9 ran.
Oh Braga (FR) 5-2 (10-7) Led, hit 8th, narrowly headed next, stayed challenging, hit 4 out, wandered under pressure and hit last, drew clear flat, won at Newbury 2m 2f nov hcp chs 0-125 (3) gd in Feb beating Fit To Drive (11-8) by 5l, 5 ran.
Treasury Counsel (IRE) 9-1 (11-9) Held up, left 3rd 10th, struggling from 4 out, mistake 3 out, 3rd of 5, well behind Picts Hill (11-8) at Wincanton 2m 5f nov hcp chs 0-120 (3) sft.
Fantastic Arts (FR) 16-1 (10-8) Mid-division, ridden and weakened 3 out, pulled up before 2 out pulled up 2 out in race won by Vodka Brook (11-4) at Wincanton 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-120 (3) gs in Jan, 19 ran.
