tracked leader, hit 8th, led 4 out, drew clear from next, eased down flat, easily
led, mistake and headed 4 out, soon outpaced, plugged on from next, no chance with winner
tracked leaders, not fluent 5th, jumped right 7th, outpaced 5 out, 3rd and beaten when fell next
A cracking contest to open the day's proceedings and LIGHTNING STRIKE is the pick to see off Kalahari King, Palomar and Auroras Encore. The Venetia Williams-trained selection was as good as any of these over hurdles and came out and trounced his rivals on his Warwick chasing debut last month, over a similar trip and on soft ground. He will relish the cut here and after just the one run he is clearly open to plenty of improvement. The good form of the yard also enhances confidence. Kalahari King is another from a stable going well, that of Ferdy Murphy and there is little to choose between this gelding and the selection on hurdling form. Kalahari King certainly gets this trip and acts with cut in the ground, though his optimum conditions are good to soft and it might just get a bit deeper than that with so much rain around. Palomar has won both his chase starts to date, which, when you consider that the Nicky Richards yard has never really fired this winter is all the more to his credit. The merit of those two successes is hard to assess compared to others but there is every chance he will go well again if handling the step up in trip. Auroras Encore is another to throw into the mix. Sue Smith's charge failed to complete on his debut but outpointed Osolomio at Sedgefield recently and with conditions and trip to suit he looks set to be heavily involved. Gauvain is another with ability but he doesn't convince over this trip and a better proposition in that regard is Psychomodo, but we'll take Lightning Strike to score.
Auroras Encore (IRE) 9-2 (11-0) Tracked leaders, ridden and chased leader after 3 out, led approaching last, driven out run-in, won at Sedgefield 2m 4f beg chs (4) sft in Dec beating Osolomio (11-0) by 2l, 12 ran.
Lightning Strike (GER) Evensjt-fav (11-0) Held up, not fluent 3rd, chased leader 8th, not fluent 4 out, challenged approaching 3 out, soon led, clear 2 out, easily, won at Wincanton 2m 5f beg chs (4) sft in Dec beating Scaramouche (11-0) by 15l, 4 ran.
Psychomodo 11-4 (11-6) Tracked clear leader, left in lead 5th, mistake 7th, ridden 2 out, headed last and faded, 2nd of 5, 6l behind Cheating Chance (11-6) at Ascot 2m 1f nov chs (3) gd in Nov.
Keen Warrior 14-1 (10-9) Held up, not fluent 3rd, headway and in touch 5th, 3rd and no impression went hit last, 5th of 9, 8l behind The Randy Bishop (10-5) at Market Rasen 2m 2f nov chs (4) sft in Dec.
Kalahari King (FR) 10-11fav (11-8) Tracked leaders, blundered 7th, chased winner 4 out, 10 lengths down in 2nd when jumped badly left and blundered last, 2nd of 5, 17l behind Doctor David (11-4) at Haydock 2m nov chs (3) sft in Dec.
Palomar (USA) 9-4fav (11-4) Held up, prominent 7th, challenging when left in lead 2 out, very easily, won at Catterick 2m nov chs (3) gs in Dec beating Double Vodka (10-7) by 4 1/2l, 10 ran.
Gauvain (GER) 11-10fav (11-0) Tracked clear leader, closed up 5th, led soon after 8th, clear before 3 out, unchallenged after, eased flat, won at Lingfield 2m beg chs (4) sft in Nov beating Back Among Friends (11-0) by 13l, 7 ran.
