mid-division, mistake 9th, ridden 10th, weakened next, pulled up before 4 out
in touch, mistakes, lost place 5th, pulled up before 8th
towards rear, headway 9th, ridden to chase leaders 5 out, weakened 4 out
in rear, effort 11th, soon weakened and pulled up before 3 out
tracked leaders, joined leader 4 out, led and clear 3 out, unchallenged
prominent, hit 11th, weakened next, pulled up before 13th
in rear, weakening after 10th, pulled up before 11th
led, ridden 4 out, headed soon after, no further impression
mid-division, pulled up before 8th
soon with leader, reminders 4th, hit 12th, ridden and one pace from 4 out
Our selection in the novices¿ handicap chase is Merry Storm with Boddidley, Fight The Feeling and Espresso Forte all live dangers in a tricky looking affair. Merry Storm notched up two wins in a week at the start of January at Hereford and Folkestone and based on that form he is entitled to run a big race here. He had looked a bit of a handful when running out at Towcester prior to this and is obviously not one to put the mortgage on, but he ran a promising race when second at Leicester last time out and is our selection here. Boddidley is clearly a useful chaser but he has pulled up on his last two starts. Miss Fahrenheit and Fight The Feeling both appear to be firmly in the handicappers grip. One other of interest is the Henrietta Knight-trained Espresso Forte. He makes his debut over fences and has had a year off. He is sure to go close if fit but we will side with experience and opt for Merry Storm.
Boddidley (IRE) 8-1 (11-4) Behind, ridden and struggling after 9th, tailed off when pulled up at the last in race won by Ebony Jack (9-11) at Fontwell 3m 2f hcp chs 0-110 (4) hvy in Feb, 9 ran.
Miss Fahrenheit (IRE) 9-1 (11-1) Held up towards rear, ridden 6th, tailed off when pulled up 4 out in race won by Carew Lad (11-2) at Chepstow 3m hcp hdl 0-115 (4) hvy, 12 ran.
Fight The Feeling 16-1 (11-4) Tracked leaders, chased winner from 14th, hit 5 out, every chance 3 out, soon ridden, kept on from next, 2nd of 6, 2 1/2l behind Squires Lane (11-1) at Southwell 3m beg chs (4) sft in Feb.
Espresso Forte (IRE) 12-1 (11-8) Prominent, led 5th, headed 8th, led again 9th, ridden 3 out, hit 2 out, ran on well, won at Hereford 3m 2f nov hcp hdl 0-95 (F) gs in Mar '05 beating Good Man Again (11-12) by 5l, 17 ran.
Merry Storm (IRE) 6-4fav (10-9) Held up, hit rail after 3rd, hit rail again after 9th, never a threat, 2nd of 6, 23l behind First De La Brunie (10-10) at Leicester 2m 4f nov chs (4) hvy.
The Cad (IRE) 16-1 (10-9) Chased leaders, ridden after 8th, soon weakened, tailed off, 4th of 8, well behind Cousin Nicky (10-8) at Exeter 2m 3f nov chs (4) hvy.
Lady Wurzel 14-1 (10-7) Always behind, tailed off from 8th and pulled up at the 10th in race won by Valley Warrior (9-8) at Hereford 3m 1f hcp chs 0-90 (5) gd, 15 ran.
Roddy The Vet (IRE) 14-1 (10-5) In touch, led approaching 8th, headed 10th, weakened approaching 3 out, 4th of 13, 27l behind King's Bounty (11-7) at Market Rasen 2m 6f hcp chs 0-105 (4) gd in Feb.
