close up, chased leaders 4 out, no impression
soon tracking leaders, weakened when blundered 11th, pulled up before 4 out
led until headed after 6th, weakened 3 out
tracked leaders, not fluent 5th, led after next, headed 10th, outpaced from 12th
tracked leaders, led 10th, ridden and headed 3 out, rallied approaching last, led again flat, driven out
held up in rear, headway when mistake 6 out, stumbled after next, led 3 out, soon ridden, headed flat, held near finish
Last-time winners The Gleaner and De Boitron will be popular with punters but we will take them on here with course specialist RAINING HORSE. James Ewart has had his relatively small string in very good order for some time now and this seven-year-old gelding should be just about to hit his prime over fences. He has been beaten only once in four starts at the track, winning over two, two-and-a-half and three miles and on ground ranging from good right through soft. The yard wasn't going so well when he was beaten twice elsewhere earlier in the campaign, but back here he should be a different proposition. The Gleaner has not been seen since winning at Sedgefield 14 months or so ago. Trip and ground should suit and with the stable firing he is not ruled out, though a 12lb rise is not a major positive. De Boitron received 21lbs and beat Or De Grugy six lengths at Catterick in January and is now 10lbs worse off, so Sue Bradburne's charge may be up to reversing placings. Flake was beaten too far in the same race there to be seriously considered this time, but Canada Street is back on a winning mark and has possibilities if you are prepared to trust his dodgy jumping. Raining Horse is taken to score.
Nirvana Swing (FR) 12-1 (11-1) Behind and soon pushed along, never dangerous, 10th of 12, 42l behind Nacarat (11-9) at Doncaster 2m 3f hcp chs 0-140 (2) sft in Jan.
The Gleaner 8-1 (11-2) Tracked leaders, headway to lead after 2 out, ran on strongly, won at Sedgefield 2m 4f beg chs (4) gd in Dec '07 beating Top Cloud (11-2) by 5l, 12 ran.
Or de Grugy (FR) 5-1 (11-9) Led to 4th, tracked leader, effort to lead again 3 out, headed next, soon ridden and one pace, 2nd of 11, 6l behind De Boitron (10-2) at Catterick 2m 3f hcp chs 0-120 (3) sft in Jan.
Canada Street (IRE) 6-1 (11-12) Held up mid-division when fell at the 9th in race won by Jeringa (10-5) at Wetherby 2m 6f hcp chs 0-115 (4) gs in Nov, 13 ran.
Flake 11-2 (11-9) Chased leaders to 4 out, soon weakened, 9th of 11, 31l behind De Boitron (10-2) at Catterick 2m 3f hcp chs 0-120 (3) sft in Jan.
De Boitron (FR) 9-1 (10-2) Held up in rear, steady headway 12th, led 2 out, ridden and stayed on well flat, won at Catterick 2m 3f hcp chs 0-120 (3) sft in Jan beating Or de Grugy (11-9) by 6l, 11 ran.
Raining Horse (FR) 15-2 (11-4) In rear, ridden and lost place 11th, soon tailed off, 9th of 16, well behind Stagecoach Opal (10-12) at Doncaster 3m hcp chs 0-120 (3) gd in Dec.
