with leader, led narrowly 3rd to 9th, lost place and ridden after next, weakened 3 out
held up in last pair in touch, struggling 10th, tailed off 4 out, pulled up before next
with leaders, led narrowly 9th, not fluent and headed 3 out, ridden and no impression from next, lost 3rd last, weakened flat
led to 3rd, with leaders, lost place 10th, weakened before 4 out, pulled up before next
tracked leaders, driven before 4 out, soon weakened, pulled up before next
tracked leaders, ridden 4 out, one pace in 4th next, stayed on to take 3rd last, never on terms
tracked leaders, joined leaders on outside 8th, led 3 out, soon ridden, headed next, kept on same pace, no impression with winner approaching last
Stormhoek won here and at Stratford in 2012 but has a long absence to overcome. Ratify will be hoping to add to his Towcester victory last month but the runner-up has been well beaten since and he's 15lb higher now. RUSSE BLANC is 4lb worse off than when beating Hollins by a length-and-a-half over track and trip last time but the runner-up has had plenty of chances and, despite his form figures, is not one to rely on. We'll take Richard Lee's charge to confirm that running and score again with And The Man also a risky proposition and Scampi Boy pulled up on his reappearance at Warwick.
Jat Punjabi 25-1 (10-13) In touch, not fluent 4th or 8th, hit 5 out, soon weakened, 7th of 8, 27l behind Renard D'Irlande (11-3) at Uttoxeter 2m 4f nov hcp chs 0-125 (3) sft in Nov.
And The Man 9-2 (11-1) Held up in rear, hampered 6th, headway 5 out, soon ridden and no impression, weakened 3 out, pulled up next, in a race won by Do It For Dalkey (11-7) at Ayr 3m 1f hcp chs 0-130 (3) sft in Mar, 10 ran.
Stormhoek (IRE) 13-2 (11-1) Held up mid-division, headway 8th, went 2nd from 13th, led before 16th, clear before last, eased towards finish, won at Stratford 2m 7f hcp chs 0-120 (4) gd in Aug '12 beating Double Chocolate (11-7) by 7l, 9 ran.
Kilflora 10-1 (11-0) Led, ridden and headed before 2 out, weakened last, 3rd of 8, 32l behind Shimla Dawn (11-9) at Market Rasen 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gs.
Scampi Boy (IRE) 7-1 (11-11) Towards rear, ridden and struggling before 11th, tailed off and pulled up soon after, in a race won by Alpancho (11-12) at Warwick 2m 4f nov hcp chs 0-110 (4) gs in Nov, 12 ran.
Russe Blanc (FR) 2-1 (11-11) Tracked leader, challenged 8th, led next, ridden out, won at Uttoxeter 2m 4f hcp 0-100 (5) sft in Nov beating Hollins (11-5) by 1 1/2l, 6 ran.
Ratify 11-4 (11-0) Tracked leading pair, went 2nd 7th, led 4 out, drew easily clear from next, won at Towcester 2m 3f hcp chs 0-95 (5) gs in Nov beating Riddleofthesands (11-9) by 10l, 6 ran.
Hollins 9-2 (11-5) Held up in touch in rear, not fluent 9th, went 4th 10th, chased leading pair after 4 out, went 2nd last, stayed on, unable to challenge, 2nd of 6, 1 1/2l behind Russe Blanc (11-11) at Uttoxeter 2m 4f hcp 0-100 (5) sft in Nov.
