held up in touch, chased winner 5th, led 3 out, soon ridden and headed, no impression 2 out
chased leaders on outside, lost place after 2nd, stayed on from 2 out, went 3rd last, no danger
made virtually all, not fluent 6th, clear 2 out, ran on well
always in rear, lost touch 5th, tailed off
in touch in mid-division, ridden, went wrong and pulled up before 5th
held up in rear, went badly lame and pulled up before 2nd
tracked leaders, outpaced after 3 out, weakened before 2 out, lost 3rd when blundered last
prominent, hit 3rd, not fluent next, mistake 3 out, weakened soon after, tailed off
held up towards rear, hit 3rd, headway when jumped right 5th, soon ridden, weakened 3 out, tailed off
held up in rear, blundered 1st, hit 4th, some headway after 5th, no impression, weakened after 3 out
held up in touch, ridden and weakened after 3 out
Claire Dyson's Wheelavit was pushed out to win at Newton Abbot at the beginning of the month and has every chance of following up that success with victory here but a 7lb rise makes doing so difficult and preference is for GARRULOUS, who gets the verdict ahead of Kashmina. Sheena West's mare opened her account over timber when last seen over hurdles when landing a handicap at Taunton in November and comes here fit from the flat so she has to be considered. Towcester winner, Alph, struggled off his new mark here last time and looks best watched at present, while Jonjo O'Neill's Ardistan has given little sign of encouragement of late. As well as having Kashmina in the race, Sheena West is also represented by Screaming Brave, who has stepped up on recent flat form since being put over hurdles and he has every chance but marginal preference is for Garrulous. Tim Vaughan has his string in fine form right now and the son of Lomitas looks worth another chance following an encouraging run at Bangor earlier this month on his reappearance.
Alph 11-1 (10-0) Held up towards rear, ridden after 3 out, in 5th and held when hit 2 out, 5th of 9, 18l behind Tiger O'toole (10-13) at Stratford 2m hcp hdl 0-135 (3) gf in May.
Is It Me (USA) 50-1 (10-11) Tracking leaders on outside 2nd, lost place 5th, weakened next, pulled up before 2 out, in a race won by Humbel Ben (10-5) at Newton Abbot 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-135 (3) gd, 14 ran.
Wheelavit (IRE) 15-2 (11-11) Made all, in command before 2 out, mistake last, pushed out, won at Newton Abbot 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gf beating Ton-Chee (10-6) by 1 1/2l, 10 ran.
Ardistan (IRE) 20-1 (11-0) Held up in touch, ridden along after 4 out, weakened approaching 3 out, 9th of 10, 27l behind Aather (11-3) at Ffos Las 2m hcp hdl 0-120 (3) gs in Dec.
Garrulous (UAE) 17-2 (11-7) Chased leaders, left 3rd 3 out, no impression, 3rd of 6, 12l behind Danny Zuko (11-5) at Bangor 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-120 (3) gd.
Kashmina 7-2 (10-2) Held up in rear, good headway approaching 2 out, soon chased leader, led approaching last, ridden and quickened clear flat, won at Taunton 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) sft in Nov beating Cantabilly (11-5) by 6l, 9 ran.
First Bay (IRE) 9-2 (10-9) Held up mid-division, weakened after 3 out, 7th of 9, 45l behind Harvest Song (10-9) at Fontwell 2m 2f mdn hdl (4) gd in May.
Massams Lane 25-1 (11-3) Led after 1st, ridden approaching 3 out, headed 2 out, weakened approaching last, hung right flat, 4th of 13, 17l behind Tarkani (11-5) at Worcester 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gs in Oct.
Recurring Dream 8-1 (10-6) Held up in touch, ridden approaching 3 out, weakened before last, 4th of 10, 26l behind Onemix (9-13) at Uttoxeter 2m mrs nov hdl (4) gd in May.
Raise Again (IRE) 14-1 (10-7) In rear, not always fluent, ridden 5th, no chance when mistake 2 out, pulled up before last, in a race won by Wilbury Star (11-1) at Newton Abbot 2m 1f nov hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gf, 10 ran.
Shadow Wood (IRE) 50-1 (10-12) Held up in 5th, jumped slowly 4th, weakened well before 2 out, tailed off, 4th of 6, well behind Praxiteles (11-5) at Ffos Las 2m nh nov hdl (4) gf.
Screaming Brave 15-2 (11-9) Held up in 6th, headway to 3rd bypassing ommited 2 out, chased winner after bypassing ommited last, hung badly left under pressure soon after, no impression, 2nd of 8, 3 1/2l behind Ajman (10-3) at Ffos Las 2m hcp hdl 0-120 (3) gf.
