pressed winner until after 16th, soon dropped to 3rd, driven 3 out, no impression next, kept on again flat
tracked leading pair, pushed along, disputing close 3rd when blundered badly 16th, eventually unseated rider
several slow jumps, tracked leading pair, pecked 14th, chased winner from approaching 17th, driven and held when mistake last, kept on under pressure flat
mostly jumped well, made all, hit 11th, clear before last, stayed on flat, held on, all out
A testing trip around the figure of eight circuit could see course winner SHAKA'S PEARL come home ahead of Ya I Know and Atlantic Jane. Nick Gifford has his horses in good form and despite two modest runs recently, better is expected from this son of Infantry. He has won here before, handles soft ground, and is starting to edge down to a more feasible handicap mark. Ya I Know has dropped two pounds in the weights for his fourth behind Noble Bily in the Kent National (selection back in sixth) and handles this ground well, Atlantic Jane ran well behind Vamizi at Exeter and would be interesting if ridden aggressively from the front, whilst Omix D'Or impressed when winning at Market Rasen last month but efforts since suggest that he is probably high enough in the weights. Fourpointone looks 'thrown-in' on his old form, and if the jockeys aren't alert then this son of Overbury may be able to get an easy lead with Tom O'Brien an interesting jockey booking. Another small field and not much to choose between them, however the race can go to Shaka's Pearl.
Shaka's Pearl 7-1 (10-3) Chased leaders until lost place before 16th, poor 7th and struggling 3 out, tailed off, 6th of 10, 46l behind Noble Bily (9-9) at Folkestone 3m 7f hcp chs 0-130 (3) hvy.
Ya I Know (IRE) 9-2 (10-1) Led until 10th, chased leader, weakened into 5th when blundered 19th, soon struggling, tailed off, 5th of 10, 44l behind Noble Bily (9-9) at Folkestone 3m 7f hcp chs 0-130 (3) hvy.
Atlantic Jane 16-1 (10-11) Prominent, reminders 9th, hard ridden after 13th, every chance after next, not fluent 4 out, held before 2 out, one pace, 3rd of 9, 10l behind Vamizi (11-5) at Exeter 3m nov hcp chs 0-115 (4) sft.
Fourpointone 20-1 (10-11) Chased leader who was clear 4th until 14th, mistake and led 16th, headed 5 out, one pace, 3rd of 14, 17l behind Incentivise (10-9) at Chepstow 3m 2f hcp chs 0-100 (4) gd.
Omix D'or (FR) 2-1fav (11-0) Mid-division, progress to chase winner 9th, hit 2 out, no extra and lost 2nd near finish, 3rd of 8, 9l behind Work Boy (11-2) at Market Rasen 2m 6f hcp ch 0-110 (4) gd.
