in touch, driven along from 5th, kept on same pace from 2 out
chased leaders, ridden after 6th, weakened after 3 out
held up in touch, ridden and effort after 3 out, went 2nd flat, no chance with winner
chased leaders until weakened after 6th
chased winner, ridden approaching 3 out, kept on same pace, lost 2nd flat
never fluent, behind, lost touch from 6th
in touch, ridden after 6th, soon beaten
made all, soon clear, unchallenged
Nonrunner
An obvious chance for Martin Pipe to start the week in good style with Tizi Ouzou holding a favourites chance over Great Ovation and Pequenita. Martin Pipe's former John Dunlop inmate hasn't quite been able to hit the high notes following a Ludlow success but is an interesting horse now that she is dropped in grade. Clear on the official BHB ratings, she looks the obvious one for more exposed rivals to beat. Great Ovation was second here in a similar event in November. He has some ability but this will be a first run for almost six months and he may well need it. Pequenita has no fitness issues. The refitting of cheekpieces looked to work the oracle last time but by the same token she is unlikely to get such a soft lead on this occasion. Ela Figura had bits and pieces of form on the flat but disappointed on a sole hurdles start. Downtherefordancin has the burden of topweight and while he was much the best of these - he very much has his own ideas about the game these days. Millkom Elegance has been running well of late in banded stakes on the flat and could be best of the rest. A poor race in which Tizi Ouzou just about secures the nod.
Downtherefordancin (IRE) 16-1 Slowly away, behind, stayed on from 3 out, never dangerous, 5th of 11, 13l behind Caspian Dusk at Exeter 2m 1f amt hcp hdl 0-100 (F) gs.
Huw The News 66-1 Held up in mid-division, some headway 3 out, ridden approaching 2 out, one pace, 7th of 13, 18l behind Pequenita at Taunton 2m 1f sll hdl (G) gs in Feb.
Millkom Elegance 12-1 Mid-division, headway 6th, challenged 3 out, ridden and led approaching 2 out, headed soon after last, no extra, 3rd of 16, 5l behind Breezer at Taunton 2m 3f sll hcp hdl 0-95 (G) gs.
Ela Figura 100-1 Always in rear, blundered 3 out, tailed off when pulled up 2 out in race won by Briareus at Kempton 2m nov hdl (D) gs, 16 ran.
Great Ovation (FR) 5-2fav Held up, headway after 4th, went 2nd after 3 out, ridden approaching last, one pace flat, 2nd of 14, 3l behind Desert Spa at Hereford 2m 1f sll hcp hdl 0-95 (G) gs in Nov.
Rose of York (IRE) 25-1 Always behind, tailed off when pulled up at the last in race won by Jardin Fleuri at Ludlow 2m 5f nov sll hdl (G) gd in Feb '04, 15 ran.
Tizi Ouzou (IRE) 16-1 Held up last, some headway 6th, weakened 3 out, 6th of 13, 17l behind Space Star at Taunton 2m 1f cnd hcp hdl 0-105 (E) gs.
Pequenita 16-1 Made all, ridden 2 out, ran on to lead after last, won at Taunton 2m 1f sll hdl (G) gs in Feb beating Time To Roam by 2l, 13 ran.
