tracked leaders, went 2nd going well 2 out, led last, ran on flat
soon prominent, shaken up 9th, weakened 3 out, tailed off
held up towards rear, headway to chase leaders 3 out, weakened 2 out
pressed leader, ridden after 3 out, lost 2nd 2 out, kept on same pace
raced keenly, held up towards rear, headway after 7th, ridden from 3 out, stayed on same pace
held up in rear, raced keenly, headway 5th, not much room after 8th, 5th and pushed along when blundered badly 2 out, not recover, tailed off
held up in rear, some headway after 7th, soon dropped rear, no impression after
prominent, lost place 5th, no danger after
mid-division, not fluent 3rd, headway 6th, hit 9th, hampered soon after, soon dropped rear, eased and pulled up before 3 out
led, ridden after 3 out, headed last, stayed on
mid-division, trying to close when badly hampered on inside after 8th, quickly dropped rear, no danger after
Nonrunner
OPENDITCH is the selection in a decent race with Made In Japan and Stellenbosch making a fair degree of appeal amongst the others. David Pipe's charge was bitterly disappointing at Cheltenham in December but the stable weren't exactly firing on that occasion and on better ground this afternoon, there is a strong likelihood of him returning back to form. Made In Japan has had two seasons off. A smart juvenile hurdler, he wouldn't be the first example of Nigel Twiston-Davies restoring a horse to its former glory. Stellenbosch needs genuinely fast ground. He has gone well fresh in the past so watch the market. Aldirous is another who shows his best on a decent surface and there was plenty to like about his battling victory at Wetherby. Star Shot hasn't finished his races so a tongue strap is tried today. Master Eddy is bidding for his hattrick though he has waited since March 2007 to get back to the track. Be Brief was well fancied for a Haydock contest last week before the prevailing ground saw him scratched from that engagement. He could conceivably be well handicapped on some of his earlier form. Plenty of plausible winners and Openditch is our idea of the most likely.
Tisfreetdream (IRE) 100-1 (10-0) In touch, ridden after 3 out, weakened 2 out, 14th of 27, 38l behind Ninetieth Minute (10-3) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp hdl Grd 3 (1) gs.
Openditch (FR) 15-2 (10-0) Mid-division, headway after 3 out, ridden to dispute 3rd after 2 out, weakened approaching last, eased run-in, 12th of 16, 31l behind Fair Along (11-5) at Cheltenham 3m hcp hdl (2) gs in Dec.
Made In Japan (JPN) 9-2 (11-9) With leader, ridden 5th, weakened 2 out, pulled up flat (lame) pulled up in race won by Wise Owl (10-10) at Chepstow 2m hcp hdl 0-130 (3) gd in Apr '07, 10 ran.
Easby Park 4-1 (11-9) With leader, led approaching 3 out, left rear next, won at Wetherby 3m 1f nov hdl (4) gd beating Option Money (11-8) by 40l, 5 ran.
Stellenbosch (USA) Evensfav (11-5) Mid-division, hampered 1st, headway approaching 6th, driven after next, weakened after 3 out, 5th of 12, 33l behind Winter Star (12-0) at Hereford 2m 4f nov hdl (4) gd in Sept.
Star Shot (IRE) 10-1 (11-1) Held up, never dangerous from 4 out, 5th of 8, 19l behind Kia Kaha (11-1) at Ludlow 2m 4f beg chs (4) gs in Nov.
Aldiruos (IRE) 10-1 (10-6) Held up, headway approaching 3 out, led 2 out, headed last, regained lead flat, driven out, won at Wetherby 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-125 (3) gd beating Knockavilla (11-2) by 3/4l, 11 ran.
Yeoman Spirit (IRE) 6-1 (11-6) Took keen hold, chased leaders, went 2nd after 3 out, blundered 2 out, no impression and lost 2nd last, 3rd of 18, 11l behind Pure Genius (11-0) at Warwick 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gs.
Federstar (GER) 10-1 (10-11) Chased leader 2nd, joined leader after 10th, mistake and fell at the 12th in race won by Valley Ride (11-0) at Fakenham 3m beg chs (4) gs, 5 ran.
Cannon Fire (FR) 8-1 (11-10) Held up, not fluent 7th, mistake next, soon lost touch, tailed off, 7th of 9, well behind Sashenka (10-10) at Ludlow 3m cnd hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gd in Feb.
Pelo Du Bief (FR) 10-1 (10-9) Held up mid-division, stayed on from 2 out, never dangerous, 6th of 16, 19l behind Galaxy Rock (11-2) at Southwell 2m hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gd.
Master Eddy 4-1 (11-8) Chased leaders, driven along from 4 out, went 2nd between last 2, led last, driven out, won at Newbury 3m nov hdl (4) gs in Mar '07 beating Double Dizzy (11-8) by 6l, 9 ran.
Be Brief 9-4fav (11-5) Tracked leader, led after 3 out, headed before next, ridden and kept on same pace, no impression flat, 2nd of 14, 3l behind Time For Rupert (11-5) at Catterick 2m 3f nh nov hdl (4) sft in Jan.
