led until after 1st, chased winner, not fluent 4 out or 3 out, soon well held
tracked leaders, not fluent 2nd, ridden after 7th, soon weakened, continued in own time
took keen hold early stages, led after 1st, mistake 7th, not fluent next, clear from 4 out, easily
Withdrawn
Three times a winner over fences, SILVERGROVE is back over the smaller obstacles for the first time since 2014. He should come out best if running anywhere near his chasing mark. Forever My Friend has not raced over timber for even longer but completed a double over fences last month while Linguine is getting closer over hurdles and was beaten only a nose at Wincanton last time. Braventara was placed on her hurdling bow and point-to-point winner Predict A Riot is preferred to bumper winner Bells On Sunday.
Linguine (FR) 4-6fav (11-5) Led, pushed along before 2 out, soon headed and ridden, switched left before last, kept on and edged left slightly left run-in, just held post, 2nd of 4, shd behind Rouge Devils (11-5) at Wincanton 2m 5f (4) gf in Oct.
Predict A Riot (IRE) 3-1 (12-1) Ld/disp, slt adv 1/2way, upsides 2out, 1l adv appr last where mstk, all out run-in, won at Monksgrange 3m mdn Yielding - Soft in Mar beating Drimsree Lad (11-10) by 4l, 6 ran.
Braventara 25-1 (10-12) Prominent, ridden and outpaced before 2 out, kept on in 3rd before last, 3rd of 7, 6l behind Coillte Lass (10-12) at Hereford 2m 6f mdn (5) gd in Oct.
Silvergrove 16-1 (11-5) Disputed lead until 11th, led again 16th, headed next, hit 4 out, no impression on winner last, stayed on same pace, lost 2nd close home, 3rd of 22, 12 1/2l behind Cause Of Causes (11-9) at Cheltenham 3m 2f hcp (2) gd in Mar.
Forever My Friend (IRE) 7-1 (12-3) Made all, pecked slightly 4 out, left well clear from next, stayed on, won at Ludlow 3m hcp (4) gf in Oct beating Brave Helios (11-9) by 16l, 11 ran.
Bells On Sunday 8-1 (10-12) Went left 1st, chased leaders, driven and outpaced before 4 out, modest 4th from 2 out, 4th of 9, 27l behind Colin's Sister (10-12) at Chepstow 2m 3f (4) gd in Oct.
