tracked leader from 2nd, led narrowly 2 out, kept on, driven out
led 2nd, ridden and headed 2 out, rallied flat, held near finish
held up, headway after 5th, weakened after 7th
led until 2nd, chased leaders until weakened 3 out
held up, ridden and headway after 7th, weakened after 3 out, went moderate 4th before next
held up, ridden after 7th, weakened after next
tracked leaders, ridden after 3 out, one pace from next
chased leaders, struggling 6th, weakened after 3 out
Best to concentrate on the form picks and they are Dip Anchor, Shining Gale and Forest Pennant with preference for the latter. Shining Gale was well backed last time but was in trouble a long way from home; that may have been down to the ground and clearly wasn't his running but he remains best watched. Dip Anchor may have been a big price when winning here last time but there was no fluke about that success as he had caught the eye when finishing in front of the better fancied Phar Again at Huntingdon prior to that. Emma Lavelle's runner may be worth another chance but Pop looks to have gone the wrong way after a promising start to his hurdling career. Support for Paradise Again would be of interest but Forest Pennant sets a decent standard. There was no disgrace in his defeat to a well backed Irish raider nor in his third to Lodge Lane and Carruthers next time. He got off the mark in another well contested race at Chepstow last time, the third has won since, and Forest Pennant looks capable of defying his penalty.
Forest Pennant (IRE) Evensfav (11-4) Held up, headway after 7th, ridden to lead approaching last, stumbled and ran on, won at Chepstow 2m 4f nh nov hdl (4) hvy beating Oscar Bay (11-4) by 2l, 16 ran.
Shining Gale (IRE) 15-8fav (11-10) Towards rear, headway 6th, ridden and hung left 3 out, weakened next, 7th of 12, 27l behind Theatre Dance (11-4) at Fontwell 2m 2f nh nov hdl (4) sft.
Grumpy Bee (IRE) 80-1 (10-13) Held up towards rear, some headway 3 out, weakened next, 8th of 14, 27l behind Dip Anchor (11-1) at Taunton 2m 1f nov hdl (4) sft in Jan.
Pacco (FR) 22-1 (11-1) Mid-division, effort 3 out, weakened before next, 9th of 11, 38l behind Kornati Kid (11-1) at Wincanton 2m 6f nov hdl (4) sft in Jan.
Paradise Regained (FR) 9-2 (11-2) Mainly towards rear, 6th of 12, 27l behind The Big Orse (10-13) at Newbury 2m nhf (5) sft in Dec.
Phar Again (IRE) 3-1 (11-5) Held up towards rear, jumped left 1st, headway approaching 5th, ridden when stumbled 2 out, soon weakened, 11th of 17, 21l behind The Polomoche (11-5) at Huntingdon 2m nh nov hdl (4) hvy in Jan.
Pop (FR) 16-1 (11-4) Raced keenly in mid-division, ridden approaching 3 out, soon weakened, 9th of 13, well behind Crescent Island (11-4) at Newbury 2m nh nov hdl (4) sft in Jan.
Saddler George (IRE) 80-1 (10-12) Always behind, tailed off, 11th of 15, well behind What A Friend (10-12) at Chepstow 2m 4f mdn hdl (4) sft in Dec.
Dip Anchor 50-1 (11-1) Led, ridden and headed 2 out, rallied to lead after last, driven out, won at Taunton 2m 1f nov hdl (4) sft in Jan beating Pterodactyl (11-4) by 1 1/2l, 14 ran.
This Way (IRE) 12-1 (11-5) Towards rear, headway 4th, ridden approaching 3 out, weakened 2 out, 5th of 15, 16l behind Beshabar (11-5) at Exeter 2m 3f nov hdl (4) gs in Jan.
You Know Bridie (IRE) 100-1 (10-12) Always behind, tailed off, 8th of 15, well behind Beshabar (11-5) at Exeter 2m 3f nov hdl (4) gs in Jan.
