in rear, reminders after 2nd, headway 5th, led after 4 out, not fluent last, driven clear flat
in touch, ridden to chase winner approaching 2 out, no impression flat
prominent, led 3rd to 4th, remained handy, weakened 4 out
held up, headway approaching 4 out, ridden 3 out, weakened last
not fluent 1st, mid-division, headway 4th, blundered and unseated rider 5th
with leader, led 2nd to 3rd, mistake 6th, weakening when mistake 3 out
held up, headway and not fluent 8th, weakened 3 out
in rear, reminders 4th, tailed off 8th, pulled up after 3 out
led to 2nd, led 4th, headed after 4 out, weakened 2 out
chasing leaders 2nd, lost place 5th, tailed off 8th, pulled up before 2 out
Nonrunner
PING PONG SIVOLA escapes a penalty for an easy Wincanton win last week and is taken to follow up here at the main expense of Trigger Guard and Tempting Paradise. Venetia Williams' runners are beginning to hit the mark now and Ping Pong Sivola was a country mile clear of his seven rivals when dotting up on soft ground over 2m 5f. She may not be quite so effective over the minimum trip, but the ground remains right for her, and if she can dictate matters from up front then this can still bring her stamina into play and we will side with her. Trigger Guard is back up 3lb for a decent effort when runner up at Lingfield in the mud last time and he too would enjoy a stiff test at this trip, so he is certainly capable of making a race of it. Tempting Paradise was a fast ground Plumpton scorer in September but ran no sort of race next time at Hexham. He clearly has ability in the context of this race and may well be better freshened up for a two month break. Phar Again may be better now switched to chasing, but Emma Lavelle is having a thin time of it of late and we are happy to take a watching brief, and with little else making appeal we'll take Ping Pong Sivola to score.
Phar Again (IRE) 9-2 (11-9) Held up in touch, took keen hold, weakened approaching 2 out, 10th of 16, 13l behind Kayf Keel (10-9) at Warwick 2m hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gs in Nov.
Ping Pong Sivola (FR) 9-4 (11-1) Slowly away, soon mid-division, chased winner 6th, led after 7th, clear 4 out, easily, won at Wincanton 2m 5f cnd hcp chs 0-105 (4) sft beating Alam (11-12) by a distance, 8 ran.
Tempting Paradise (IRE) 9-2 (12-5) Chased leaders, weakened approaching 2 out and pulled up 3 out in race won by Norminster (10-2) at Hexham 2m hcp chs 0-95 (5) gs in Oct, 14 ran.
Russian Flag (FR) 10-1 (11-5) Held up in rear, good headway 11th, chased winner 3 out, ridden and every chance next, weakened flat, 4th of 11, 8l behind Jackella (11-11) at Fakenham 2m 5f hcp chs 0-105 (4) gs in Nov.
Trigger Guard 11-2 (11-5) In touch, challenge going well 3 out, every chance last, found no extra flat, 2nd of 7, 3l behind Mylord Collonges (11-9) at Lingfield 2m hcp chs 0-110 (4) sft in Nov.
Devils River (IRE) 16-1 (11-1) Chased leaders, hit 5th, ridden next, driven after 8th, soon lost place, tailed off, last of 7, well behind Mylord Collonges (11-9) at Lingfield 2m hcp chs 0-110 (4) sft in Nov.
King Diamond (FR) 11-1 (11-6) In touch, not fluent 2nd, chased leader 7th, led 3 out to 2 out, not fluent last, no extra flat, 4th of 8, 3l behind Thievery (11-5) at Hereford 2m hcp chs 0-100 (4) sft in Nov.
He's My Man (IRE) 18-1 (10-2) Held up, reminded 5th, behind 8th, blundered 2 out, 7th of 12, 33l behind High Jack (11-3) at Towcester 2m nov hcp chs 0-100 (4) gd in Oct.
Guns of Love (IRE) 8-1 (10-0) Tracked leaders, hampered 2nd, jumped right 4th, led approaching 5th, ridden after 3 out, headed approaching last and faded, 3rd of 11, 11l behind Furze Hill (10-6) at Towcester 2m cnd hcp chs (5) sft in Nov.
Colemanstown 150-1 (10-7) In touch, mistake 9th, weakened 4 out, tailed off when pulled up 3 out in race won by Cybora (10-9) at Leicester 2m 4f chs 0-90 (5) gd in Nov, 10 ran.
Shelomoh (IRE) 66-1 (11-0) Mid-division until weakened after 11th, behind and pulled up 4 out in race won by Flying Falcon (11-0) at Chepstow 2m 3f beg chs (4) gs in Feb, 16 ran.
