took keen hold, held up in rear, headway 4th, challenged and hit 2 out, kept on flat, always held
in touch, outpaced 5th, weakened and no chance after
slight lead to 2nd, chased leader to before 3rd, outpaced 5th, soon lost touch, tailed off
slight lead from 2nd and set steady pace, headed 4th, driven after 3 out and weakened before next
in touch, headway to chase leading pair after 3 out, ridden and weakened next
chased leaders, 2nd before 3rd, led next, narrowly headed after 3 out, still going well, led going well 2 out, driven and kept on well flat
chased leaders, went 2nd 3 out, led soon after, headed and weakened 2 out
headway under pressure before 2 out, went 3rd flat, never near front pair
Ravello Bay is bred to be useful and she looks to be going the right way over hurdles now judged by her recent success at Huntingdon but Nicky Henderson's mare needs to improve again to get the better of CRACBOUMWIZ, who looks the one they all have to beat and gets the vote with Tanks For That rated the best of the rest. After a couple of placed efforts, the selection put up a good performance when successful at Newbury in December before running well in defeat in good company in races at Hereford and Huntingdon. Alan King's gelding does have to give weight away all round here but he should be more than up to the task and gets the verdict. Henry Daly's Pearlysteps is less exposed than his rivals after just two starts in bumpers and has to be considered on his hurdling debut, while Wade Farm Billy has not progressed as much as may have been anticipated but does come from a stable in form. Nicky Henderson's Tanks For That has run well in both starts in bumpers and he could be of interest on his hurdling debut but Cracboumwiz sets a decent standard and he looks the one to be on.
Cracboumwiz (FR) 10-1 (11-3) Held up in rear, headway approaching 3 out, challenged winner from 2 out, no extra towards finish, 2nd of 10, 2 1/2l behind Time For Rupert (11-3) at Huntingdon 2m 4f nov hdl (2) gs in Feb.
Beware Chalk Pit (IRE) 150-1 (10-5) Mid-division, behind from 3rd, tailed off when pulled up 4 out in race won by Michel Le Bon (10-12) at Chepstow 2m 4f mdn hdl (4) sft in Dec, 14 ran.
Junior Jimble (IRE) 100-1 (11-6) Tracked leaders, ridden and weakened approaching 6th, no chance when pulled up at the 7th in race won by Radmores Revenge (11-3) at Chepstow 3m mdn hdl (5) hvy in Jan, 13 ran.
Mr Logistics (IRE) 28-1 (11-0) Rear, headway 3 out, never threatened, 10th of 16, 28l behind Copper Bleu (11-0) at Newbury 2m nh mdn hdl (3) gs in Nov.
Pearlysteps 7-1 (11-4) Prominent, led over 6f out, ridden and headed 2f out, one pace final furlong, 8th of 15, 8l behind Red Harbour (11-4) at Ascot 2m nhf Grd 2 (1) gs in Dec.
Tanks For That (IRE) 8-1 (10-9) Keen, headway 5f out, ridden over 2f out, every chance over 1f out, soon held, 2nd of 11, 3l behind Its Tough (11-0) at Southwell 2m nhf (5) gs in Apr.
Wade Farm Billy (IRE) 16-1 (11-2) Chased leading pair, led 5th, headed approaching 2 out, soon one pace, no impression on front pair when lost 3rd towards finish, 4th of 9, 15l behind According To Dick (11-2) at Sandown 2m nh nov hdl (3) gs in Feb.
Ravello Bay 8-13fav (10-12) In touch, raced keenly, went 2nd after 3 out, not fluent 2 out, edged slightly left between last 2, led flat, ridden out, won at Huntingdon 2m 5f mrs nov hdl (4) gs in Feb beating Alflora Dora (10-12) by 1l, 11 ran.
