held up on outside, closed 2nd, went 2nd 4th, challenged 3 out, led next, driven out
chased leaders until ridden and weakened approaching 3 out
led until after 1st, prominent, ridden after 4th, weakened approaching 3 out
took keen hold, jumped left at times, tracked leader, led after 1st, headed before next, stayed handy until outpaced by leading pair before 3 out, soon weakened
held up, ridden after 2nd, struggling 4th, soon weakened
tracked leaders, pulled hard, led before 2nd, pressed 3 out, headed next, beaten last, stayed on same pace
Pull The Chord won a novice hurdle here a year ago before scrambling home over further at Taunton in January. Tamarillo Grove won three of his last four starts in the summer of last year but all of his form is on very much faster ground than he'll face here. Clyne made a successful debut over this trip at Ffos Las in December but made far too many mistakes over much longer trips on his two subsequent outings. Despite poor form figures, THUNDERING HOME could be the one to beat. A winner here and at Wincanton on heavy going within the last year, he's competed at a higher level than this subsequently and is now just 3lb higher than his last winning mark.
Pull The Chord (IRE) 5-1 (11-5) Held up last in touch, headway on inside before 2 out, led went left and and hit last, edged left under pressure run-in, just held on, all out, won at Taunton 2m 3f hcp (3) sft in Jan beating Kelvingrove (11-11) by shd, 6 ran.
Thundering Home 20-1 (10-0) Mid-division, outpaced 3 out, soon weakened and pulled up, at Newton Abbot 2m 6f hcp (2) gs in Aug.
Tamarillo Grove (IRE) 5-1fav (11-12) Made all, ridden before last, soon pressed, kept on gamely run-in, won at Sedgefield 2m 1f hcp (3) gd in Sep beating Oliver's Gold (11-6) by 1l, 8 ran.
Clyne 10-1 (11-11) Held up in rear, jumped left and many mistakes, modest 5th before 3 out, soon left behind, 5th of 6, 30 1/2l behind Murrayana (11-12) at Ludlow 2m 5f hcp (4) sft in Apr.
Mystery Drama 33-1 (11-8) Mid-division, reminders and weakened before 3 out, soon behind, tailed off, last of 11, dist behind Cooper (10-0) at Wetherby 2m hcp (3) sft in Oct.
Sirop De Menthe (FR) 16-1 (11-4) Led, hit 3 out, headed before next, weakened before last, 8th of 11, 17 3/4l behind Skylander (11-9) at Newton Abbot 2m 6f hcp (4) gd in Sep.
