pulled hard tracking leaders, outpaced 5 out, headway 2 out, kept on under pressure, never able to challenge
made all, driven clear 2 out, ran on strongly, eased near finish
tracked leader effort 3 out, soon under pressure and one pace
tracking leaders when blundered and unseated rider 1st
River Rhapsody is likely to prove popular having got off the mark over fences at the first time of asking when scoring at Ludlow last month. He looks sure to be in the firing-line over this longer trip, but GORING ONE makes more appeal. The latter only just failed to land his hat-trick on his recent reappearance over 2m1f at Plumpton and, back over a more suitable distance and with a run under his belt, Anna Newton-Smith's charge is fancied to land this. Road Train Bob failed to complete on his first start for a new yard, while chasing debutant Aeronautica has shown nothing over hurdles to recommend her.
Road Train Bob (IRE) 12-1 (11-0) Led, clear with one other 5th, jumped left 8th, blundered and headed 12th, hampered next, pulled soon after 3 out, in a race won by Bottman (11-3) at Fakenham 2m 5f nov chs (3) gd in Oct, 6 ran.
Goring One (IRE) 5-4fav (11-10) Led until 3rd, tracked winner, challenging and every chance when blundered badly and nearly unseated rider 2 out, rallied towards finish, just held, 2nd of 4, nk behind My Condor (11-3) at Plumpton 2m 1f hcp chs 0-95 (5) gf in Oct.
River Rhapsody (IRE) 9-4fav (10-6) Tracked leaders, hit 4th, not fluent 7th, 8 lengths 3rd 4 out, went 7 lengths 2nd 2 out, closed last, led flat, idled, ridden out, won at Ludlow 2m hcp chs 0-105 (4) gf in Oct beating Jim Tango (11-9) by 3 1/2l, 5 ran.
Aeronautica (IRE) 14-1 (11-0) Mid-division, headway 8th, soon chasing leaders, ridden to challenge approaching 2 out, weakened before next, 3rd of 12, 20l behind Molly Round (10-7) at Taunton 3m mrs hcp hdl (5) gd in Feb.
