led, jumped slowly and headed 3rd, ridden next, weakened 3 out
in touch, smooth headway 4 out, tracked leader 2 out, ridden approaching last, not quicken
never a factor
in touch, jumped left 1st, ridden after 5th, soon weakened
held up, headway 3 out, ridden to chase leaders 2 out, one pace
held up, mistake 3rd, headway approaching 4th, led and mistake 2 out, edged left last, all out
towards rear and keen, took closer order 4th, ridden and weakened 3 out
mid-division, ridden 4th, weakened 3 out
mid-division, weakened after 3 out
mid-division, weakened 4th, soon behind and pulled up before 2 out
always in rear
in touch, weakened after 3 out, mistake 2 out
tracked leaders and stumbled 1st, led 3rd, ridden and headed approaching 2 out, soon weakened
held up towards rear, headway 4th, ridden to chase leaders approaching 2 out, ran on to chase winner close home
tracked leaders, ridden 5th, weakened after 3 out
Silistra's 7lb rise in the weights for a hard fought win last time out gives this race a lot more open look to it and we will side with Lorient Express now back over hurdles, with Silistra, Twist Bookie, and Better Moment making up the shortlist. The selection is able to race off 97 today, a mark over 20lbs below his current chase rating. His stable didn't have a great Cheltenham however Venetia Williams has had her stable in consistently good form all year and her eight-year-old gelding holds solid claims today. Silistra gets on very well with his young jockey, and whilst he looks sure to be there or thereabouts, a penalty in this slightly better race makes him worth opposing. Twist Bookie is consistent and this useful dual-performer can not be discarded lightly back over the jumps. Better Moment was unsuited by the testing conditions last time out and should go better today now on a more suitable surface, whilst You'vegotmerocking had no real excuses in a seller last time out so must be opposed again. In a tricky contest to finish with, we will return to Lorient Express to get his head back in front.
You'vegotmerocking (IRE) 10-1 (11-10) Led to 6th, soon led again, ridden approaching 2 out, headed before last, weakened flat, 3rd of 11, 11l behind Lesdream (10-12) at Uttoxeter 2m 4f sll hdl (5) hvy in Jan.
Lorient Express (FR) 5-1 (10-8) Held up behind leaders, ridden into 3rd 3 out, weakened flat, 5th of 6, 33l behind Bohemian Spirit (10-9) at Sandown 2m hcp chs 0-145 (2) sft in Jan.
Just Superb 9-1 (11-0) Chased leader until 4th, ridden next, weakened after 3 out, 7th of 12, 20l behind Beauchamp Star (11-0) at Huntingdon 2m ldy hcp hdl (4) gd.
Raffish 11-1 (10-10) Tracked winner, mistake 2nd, weakened 3 out, soon lost touch, hit 2 out, left poor 2nd last, 2nd of 3, well behind Ellerslie Tom (11-7) at N Abbot 2m 1f nov hdl (4) gf in Aug.
Twist Bookie (IRE) 4-1 (11-9) Held up, headway 8th, going well when mistake 3 out, kept on, 3rd of 9, 4 1/2l behind Ericas Charm (11-11) at Ludlow 2m nov hcp chs 0-105 (4) gf in Nov.
Muntami (IRE) 10-1 (11-2) Mid-division, ridden and weakened after 4 out, tailed off, 11th of 14, well behind Bella's Baileys (10-6) at Downpatrick 2m 2f hcp hdle sft in Dec.
Silistra 8-1 (10-11) Held up in rear, headway on outside 3 out, led 2 out, hung right run-in, ridden out to hold on, won at Fontwell 2m 2f cnd hcp hdl 0-95 (5) hvy beating Travelling Light (11-0) by 3/4l, 11 ran.
Better Moment (IRE) 9-2 (11-2) Soon led, headed 3rd, weakened and behind from 5th, 8th of 12, well behind Lady Maranzi (11-7) at Taunton 2m 3f sll hcp hdl 0-95 (5) sft.
