always prominent, challenged 2 out, shaken up to lead approaching last, edged right close home, ran on
held up in 5th, took keen hold, weakened 6th, tailed off
held up in rear, mistakes 4th and when behind 6th, remote 5th and no chance when blundered last
tracked leaders, ridden and weakened 3 out, tailed off
led, ridden approaching 2 out, headed before last, no extra flat
tracked leading pair, chased winner after 3 out until ridden next, stayed on same pace last
held up in last, headway from 6th, switched left after 2 out, chased winner last, stayed on
With four of these having spent most of their time point-to-pointing, the market may provide the best indicator of expectations here. Storm Jack makes most appeal on paper, whilst Newlyn Bay should be all the better for a run over timber at Chepstow when not entirely unfancied. Malibu Sun showed enough in a Southwell bumper behind the useful Cinders And Ashes to be a possible but the safest option looks to be SURF AND TURF. Having shown precisely nothing if three outings, the McManus-O'Neill gelding scored rather cosily at Wincanton when seemingly unfancied and looks open to plenty of further improvement.
Surf And Turf (IRE) 22-1 (11-0) Held up towards rear, headway after 3 out, went 3rd before last, shaken up to lead flat, kept on well, pushed out, won at Wincanton 2m mdn hdl (4) gd beating Final Flyer (10-9) by 3/4l, 10 ran.
Maxis Dream 66-1 (10-11) Raced keenly, with leaders on outside, lost place 4 out, soon outpaced, weakened from next, tailed off, last of 5, well behind Vertige Dore (11-6) at Taunton 2m 3f nh nov hdl (4) fm.
Mr Redwood 14-1 (12-0) 4th of 13, 12l behind Pendoun (12-0) at Bishops Court 3m ptp gd in Mar.
My Runaway (IRE) 10-1 (12-0) Led til hdd cl home, 2nd of 14, 1l behind Upton Mead (11-0) at Cothelstone 2m 4f ptp gd in Mar.
Newlyn Bay 10-1 (11-0) Chased leaders, lost place before 4 out, soon weakened, tailed off, 8th of 14, well behind Super Directa (11-6) at Chepstow 2m 4f nh nov hdl (4) gs.
Storm Jack (FR) 4-5 (12-0) Held up; prog 11; str run to ld cl home, won at Wadebridge 3m ptp gf in Mar beating Mr Demister (12-0) by hd, 11 ran.
Malibu Sun 66-1 (10-7) Took keen hold, held up in last pair, ran wide on paddock bend after 2nd, went right 5th, soon struggling and lost touch, tailed off next, pulled up before 2 out, in a race won by Rebel Rebellion (11-5) at Sandown 2m nov hdl (4) gd in Mar, 6 ran.