held up in rear, headway 14th, led 3 out, headed next, every chance flat, no extra near finish
close up, jumped slowly 5th, mistake 9th, lost ground, headway to join leaders after 11th, disputing 2nd when fell 4 out
with leader, led briefly 7th, led 11th, ridden, headed 3 out, led again next, blundered last, ridden, just held on
jumped slowly, in rear, outpaced 12th, headway 14th, ridden, outpaced 3 out, headway approaching last, stayed on near finish
mid-division, ridden 11th, blundered 13th, soon in rear
led, mistake 7th, headed briefly 7th, headed 11th, ridden, weakened 3 out
Another ordinary chase here where the short list includes Reach The Clouds, Longstone Loch, Tipp Topp and Chain and the vote goes to Tipp Topp. The selection is one of two runners saddled by Owen Brennan here and he was last seen winning in a soft ground chase over 2m6f at Towcester in March last year. A hike up the weights followed, but he has now returned to a mark just 1lb higher than that success. He should handle the ground well enough and it's a fair bet that he'll see out the extra two furlongs on this flat track, so we'll take a chance on him. Stablemate Chain has won off a mark of 91 over hurdles in Ireland, but has not shown that level of form over fences, while his form suggests that he wants fast ground to be seen to best effect. Veteran performer Reach The Clouds has also dropped to a handy mark and can go well, though at 14 he is clearly susceptible to anything with the remotest turn of foot, while Longstone Loch is lightly raced and has room for improvement, but has to prove both that he stays and that he acts with cut in the ground, so we will stick with Tipp Topp to show them the way home.
Reach The Clouds (IRE) 33-1 (10-7) Chased leaders, effort 3 out, soon ridden, kept on same pace from next, 4th of 8, 16l behind Mexican (10-5) at Catterick 2m hcp chs 0-105 (E) gd in Dec.
Longstone Loch (IRE) 14-1 (10-12) Led, blundered badly and unseated rider at the 6th in race won by King's Bounty (11-7) at Market Rasen 2m 6f hcp chs 0-105 (4) gd, 13 ran.
Tipp Top (IRE) 28-1 (10-2) Held up towards rear, pushed along approaching 13th, never dangerous, 5th of 12, 38l behind Umbrella Man (11-12) at Southwell 3m hcp chs 0-100 (4) gd in Jan.
Iloveturtle (IRE) 25-1 (10-0) Always behind, weakened 8th, blundered next, 7th of 13, 34l behind King's Bounty (11-7) at Market Rasen 2m 6f hcp chs 0-105 (4) gd.
Thyne Spirit (IRE) 50-1 (11-1) Chased leaders, mistake 2nd, lost place 5th, tailed off from 7th, 7th of 10, well behind Tamarinbleu (11-1) at Ludlow 2m beg chs (4) gd in Jan.
Silent Snipe 66-1 (10-0) Behind when mistake and unseated rider in race won by Monger Lane (10-12) at Leicester 2m 7f hcp chs 0-100 (4) gs in Jan, 15 ran.
Chain 8-1 (10-5) Chased leaders, 2nd from 4th, 4th and ridden 4 out, soon weakend, 6th of 15, well behind Emer's Choice (10-3) at Downpatrick 2m 7f hcp chs 0-102 gs in Sept.
Balla d'Aire (IRE) 25-1 (9-9) Soon led, headed approaching 2nd, in touch until lost place 6th, struggling 11th, behind when pulled up 4 out in race won by Reverse Swing (10-3) at Fakenham 2m 5f hcp chs 0-100 (F) gd in Oct, 11 ran.
