held up in rear, smooth headway 4f out, soon challenging, led on bit inside final 3f, came well clear, edged left final furlong
held up in rear, made some moderate late headway, never in contention
held up in rear, pushed along 4f out, never a factor
always towards rear, ridden and struggling over 4f out, tailed off
in touch, ridden and weakened over 3f out
took keen hold, tracked leaders, led halfway, ridden and headed inside final 3f, soon no chance with winner and lost 2nd inside final furlong
led to halfway, weakened 3f out
in touch, pushed along 4f out, stayed on final 2f, went 2nd inside final furlong, never any chance with very easy winner
chased leaders, ridden over 3f out, soon outpaced
held up, headway 5f out, stayed on same pace final 2f
chased leader until halfway, pushed along 4f out, weakened 3f out
BELLVANO had looked a decent recruit when making a winning debut at Musselburgh at the beginning of the month but he blotted his copybook when wheeling left at the start and not racing with the rest of the field at Kempton recently; however Nicky Henderson's gelding may be worth another chance today and gets the vote ahead of Pensnett Bay and Global Warming. Emma Lavelle's gelding made a pleasing debut in a Hereford bumper in December and would have every chance if able to build on that effort. Jonjo O'Neill's Oh No Not Harry is bred to be useful and comes from a yard that has a reasonable record in these races, a comment that also applies to Nigel Twiston-Davies although his runner, Squinch, would need to improve on his debut effort. Pensnett Bay ran well on his debut at Uttoxeter earlier this month and has solid claims on that evidence. Carl Llewellyn's runners in this grade always warrant respect and Not So Prudent is no exception but Bellvano sets a decent standard on his Musselburgh form and he gets the vote.
Bellvano (GER) 6-4 (11-6) Whipped round and left at the start behind King's Legacy (11-2) at Kempton 2m nhf (4) gs, 8 ran.
Global Warming (IRE) 9-1 (10-13) Held up in rear, steady progress final 7f, one pace final 2f, 4th of 16, 8l behind Burton Port (11-2) at Hereford 2m 1f nhf (6) sft in Dec.
Kauto The Roc (FR) 6-1 (10-13) Held up, good headway from 4f out and chased leader, soon ridden and not quicken, 10th of 17, 43l behind Jau (11-2) at Wincanton 2m nhf (5) gs in Dec.
Milord des Pres (FR) Robin Des Pres gelding out of Lady Darling.
Not So Prudent (IRE) Flemensfirth gelding out of Prudent Princess.
Shooters Wood (IRE) 40-1 (11-2) Prominent, pulled hard, pushed along over 4f out, soon weakened, 11th of 15, 41l behind Double Dash (11-5) at Ludlow 2m nhf (5) sft in Jan.
Squinch 8-1 (11-4) Tracked leader, ridden over 2f out, weakened over 1f out, 7th of 12, 14l behind Alexander Beetle (10-7) at Ludlow 2m nhf (5) sft in Jan.
Tail of The Bank (IRE) Flemensfirth gelding out of Dear Money.
The Falklander 16-1 (10-12) 6th of 15, 27l behind Double Pride (10-12) at Warwick 2m nhf (6) hvy in Jan.
Oh No Not Harry (FR) Astarabad gelding out of La Pitchoun.
Saxon Blue 100-1 (10-5) Always rear division, ridden and struggling halfway, 14th of 18, 27l behind Zazamix (10-12) at Newbury 1m 4f 4yo nhf (6) sft in Jan.
Pensnett Bay 9-1 (10-0) Held up towards rear, pushed along 10f out, headway 7f out, hung left and chased winner just inside 3f out, closed when not much room over 1f out and again entering final furlong, one, 2nd of 8, 3l behind Queen Poline (11-3) at Uttoxeter 2.
