mid-division, mistake 2nd, blundered 3rd, soon no impression
chased winner, ridden, lost place 8th, pulled up before 13th
mid-division, ridden 13th, stayed on to go 2nd 2 out, mistake last, no chance with winner
held up, mistake 2nd, blundered, unseated rider 8th
in touch, prominent 8th, went 2nd 4 out, weakened approaching 2 out
made virtually all, slipped bend approaching 3rd, clear approaching 3 out, not fluent 3 out, shaken up, hit 2 out, pushed out, easily
prominent, chased leader 9th, ridden after 10th, weakened approaching 13th
Paul Nicholls rarely has his runners fully tuned up at this time of year, however winning point-to-pointer Willyanwoody is fancied to oblige ahead of Niche Market and Ackhurst. Conditions should suit for the selection today as he has proven adept on the pointing scene over this trip and on this ground. He represents a top stable and assuming the market speaks in his favour then he is hard to oppose. Ackhurst should be suited by this step up in trip and whilst he has tended to find one too good in the past, a place today would be a good result. Sir Bathwick is expected to be suited by the return to this sort of trip and assuming that his jockey is more on the ball today (disqualified for hitting a 'dolled off' sign and taking the wrong course last time out), he should run well. Niche Market didn't jump well over hurdles on his sole start but he was always likely to be more at home over these obstacles and if well-schooled he rates a big danger. At a price Pukka Tique could go well if forgetting his most recent blip. however Willyanwoody is fancied to oblige.
Ackhurst (IRE) 10-1 (11-0) Chased leaders, mistake 2nd, ridden 5 out, one pace and no impression when not fluent 3 out, 4th of 16, 10l behind Mighty Moose (10-8) at Chepstow 2m 3f nov hcp chs 0-100 (4) gd in Mar.
Kiltimoney (IRE) 13-2 (9-11) Chased leaders, ridden approaching 8th, weakened approaching 4 out, 7th of 11, 28l behind Romney Marsh (10-10) at Towcester 2m 3f hcp chs 0-90 (5) gd in Mar.
Niche Market (IRE) 5-4fav (12-0) Lft in ld 5-6 & 7-9; led 11; stayed on wl, won at Barbury 3m ptp gd in Jan beating Black Legend (12-0) by 4l, 7 ran.
Oat Hill 100-1 (11-0) Held up, ridden after 11th, weakened after 13th, tailed off when pulled up 3 out in race won by Otantique (11-5) at Exeter 2m 7f beg chs (4) gf, 6 ran.
Sir Bathwick (IRE) 12-1 (10-13) In touch, headway to lead after 9th, headed when went wrong side and hit marker between last 2, ridden and no impression flat, 2nd of 13, 9l behind Karelian (11-4) at Sedgefield 2m 4f beg chs (4) gf. Later dsq to last.
Willyanwoody (IRE) 4-5fav (11-0) Led til rn out 14 ran out in race won by Why Connie (11-0) at Woodford 3m ptp gf in Apr, 10 ran.
Pukka Tique 16-1 (10-9) Held up, mistakes 6th and 7th, no chance when blundered 14th, tailed off when pulled up 3 out in race won by Full On (10-10) at Bangor 3m hcp chs 0-105 (4) gf in Sept, 18 ran.
