badly hampered 5th, always in rear, blundered 16th, pulled up before next
chased leaders, reminders after 12th, lost touch 14th, pulled up before 16th
held up, headway after 12th, weakened 15th, tailed off when mistake 4 out, mistake 3 out, pulled up before next
lost touch 10th, pulled up after 13th
tracked leaders, went 2nd 12th until 14th, jumped left from 16th, weakened after 4 out
in touch when fell 5th
led, ridden approaching 3 out, headed 2 out, soon held
tracked leader until 12th, went 2nd again 14th, ridden to challenge 3 out, led 2 out, soon clear, stayed on well
There will be plenty who believe that FIRE AND RAIN may now be in the grip of the handicapper with a 7lb penalty to carry for his latest success at Kempton but Emma Lavelle's gelding won with plenty in hand there and there is no reason why he cannot score again so he gets the vote to do just that, getting the verdict ahead of Black Hills and Otantique. The last mentioned, a stable companion of the selection, has his first outing since being successful at Huntingdon in October 2007 and has every chance off just a 5lb higher mark today, if fit enough for his reappearance. Terrible Tenant deserves to get his head in front having been placed in each of his last four starts but may again have to settle for minor honours, while Tom Sayers has not progressed as much as may have been anticipated following his win here over a year ago. Openide ran better at Exeter last time but a bigger threat is likely to come from Jonathan Geake's Black Hills, who has run well in his last two starts. The vote though goes to Emma Lavelle's Fire And Rain, who has done little wrong of late and is taken to win again.
Otantique (FR) 7-2 (11-12) Mid-division, headway 15th, soon chasing leaders, led 2nd last, hit last, held on under pressure, won at Huntingdon 3m hcp chs 0-120 (3) gd in Oct '07 beating Own Line (10-13) by 1l, 9 ran.
Tom Sayers (IRE) 9-2 (11-11) Prominent, ridden and lost place 11th, mistake 13th, tailed off when pulled up before 18th, in a race won by Hello Bud (11-12) at Wincanton 3m 3f hcp chs 0-130 (3) gd, 7 ran.
Black Hills 11-2 (11-6) Prominent, led 8th, hit 13th, soon headed, weakened after 4 out, hanging right after last, 4th of 9, 13l behind Fier Normand (11-7) at Ludlow 2m 4f hcp chs 0-135 (3) gd.
Bring Me Sunshine (IRE) 16-1 (11-10) Held up in rear, jumped left 3rd, short-lived effort after 13th, no danger when jumped left 4 out, 5th of 9, 23l behind Fier Normand (11-7) at Ludlow 2m 4f hcp chs 0-135 (3) gd.
Fire And Rain (FR) 10-11fav (11-9) Jumped left throughout, made all unchallenged, won at Kempton 3m hcp chs 0-120 (3) gd beating Free Gift (11-3) by 13l, 5 ran.
Aces Or Better (IRE) 13-8fav (11-3) Led, not fluent 10th, ridden after 3 out, headed 2 out, soon hung left, just over 2 lengths down when left in lead and hampered last, headed towards finish, 2nd of 6, 1/2l behind Our Jasper (11-2) at Bangor 2m 4f noc chs (3) gd in Oct '07.
Openide 9-1 (11-4) Ran in snatches, in touch, went 2nd 11th until 14th, soon dropped away, stayed on game from 2 out, 3rd of 7, 41l behind Ibberton (10-0) at Exeter 3m 6f hcp chs 0-125 (3) gd.
Terrible Tenant 9-2fav (11-1) Led, headed 3 out, not fluent and weakened next, 2nd of 11, 2 1/2l behind Illogical Hope (9-12) at Hereford 3m 1f hcp ch 0-110 (4) gd.
Triggernometry 9-1 (10-11) Soon struggling in rear, stayed on past beaten horses from 2 out, 5th of 13, 28l behind Alfred's Tower (11-5) at Wincanton 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gf.
