held up towards rear, slightly hampered 6th, headway after 8th, went 3rd 10th, challenged 2 out, soon led, outjumped and headed last, held after, stayed on
prominent, went 2nd 5th until 8th, ridden before 10th, weakened approaching 4 out
in rear, behind 10th, never in contention
held up towards rear, headway before 5th, lost place after next, pulled up approaching 10th
in touch on inside, mistake 3rd, not fluent and reminder 8th, lost place before next, pulled up approaching 10th
prominent, not fluent 6th, lost place approaching 8th, well held after
in touch, jumped right 5th, not fluent next, went 2nd 9th, challenged 2 out, good jump to lead last, stayed on well (no time taken)
led, mistakes, headed 9th, weakenend before 4 out
always towards rear, tailed off
in touch, went 2nd 8th, led next, mistake 3 out, headed after 2 out, weakened flat
Despite a couple of errors, PENSNETT BAY was quite impressive in making all at Towcester last week. He's definitely on an upward curve and it's no surprise that Jo Hughes has decided to let him take his chance here under a penalty. Hunt Ball is the obvious danger as he is also progressing nicely, completing his hat-trick when getting the better of Time To Think at Folkestone last month under a hands and heels ride. He'd earlier beaten Watergate by 13 lengths at Fontwell withy subsequent scorer Goring Two further behind, though the second is a massive 26lb better off today. Taunton runner-up Ceepeegee may still have too much weight and Master D'Or has two ways of running nowadays.
Hunt Ball (IRE) 4-9fav (11-2) Tracked leaders, went 2nd 4 out, led going well 2 out, clear approaching last, eased towards finish, won at Folkestone 2m 5f hcp chs 0-95 (5) sft in Dec beating Time To Think (11-6) by 6l, 9 ran.
Ceepeegee (IRE) 11-2 (10-12) Tracked leaders, mistake 3rd, lost place approaching 6th, stayed on from 3 out, went 2nd last, no chance with winner, 2nd of 10, 12l behind Triple Bluff (10-0) at Taunton 2m hcp chs 0-115 (4) gs in Dec.
Master d'Or (FR) 33-1 (11-5) Held up in rear, mistake 12th, outpaced 14th, weakened 4 out, 5th of 8, 19l behind Run To Fly (10-1) at Uttoxeter 3m hcp chs 0-110 (4) sft in Dec.
She's Humble (IRE) 20-1 (11-4) Tracked leaders, under pressure 3 out, soon outpaced, stayed on approaching last, went 2nd towards finish, never reached winner, 2nd of 10, 3/4l behind Ballyman (10-0) at Plumpton 2m 4f hcp 0-100 (5) sft in Dec.
Catspan (FR) 12-1 (11-12) Tracked leaders on inner, pushed along and weakened before 2 out, 6th of 11, well behind Arisea (11-1) at Carlisle 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-100 (5) gs in Oct.
Watergate (IRE) 5-1 (11-12) With leader, led narrowly after 3rd, headed when not fluent and rider lost iron 2 out, kept on same pace, no chance with winner approaching last, 2nd of 9, 13l behind Hunt Ball (10-7) at Fontwell 2m 4f hcp chs 0-95 (5) sft in Dec.
Time To Think 20-1 (11-6) Tracked leaders, 3rd after 3 out, closed to take 2nd 2 out, no chance with winner, 2nd of 9, 6l behind Hunt Ball (11-2) at Folkestone 2m 5f hcp chs 0-95 (5) sft in Dec.
Pensnett Bay 6-1 (10-11) Made all, blundered 7th, badly hampered by loose horse 10th, jumped left 3 out, pressed 2 out, joined last, kept on gamely run-in, won at Towcester 2m 3f hcp 0-100 (5) gs in Dec beating Billy Murphy (10-2) by 2 1/4l, 7 ran.
Tenzing (IRE) 20-1 (10-0) Towards rear, behind 11th, soon pulled up, in a race won by Quincy Des Pictons (10-3) at Ludlow 2m 4f nov hcp chs 0-120 (4) gs in Dec, 10 ran.
Goring Two (IRE) 16-1 (9-11) Chased leaders, went 3rd at 6th, tracked leader 9th, led after 3 out, soon clear and in no danger, brushed through last, eased to trot nearing line, won at Plumpton 2m 4f hcp chs 0-95 (5) sft in Dec beating Oscar Charlie (9-11) by 7l, 7 ran.
