tracked front pair, chased winner briefly 3 out (usual 4 out), one pace bypassing omitted 2 out, no chance with front pair before last
held up behind in touch, pushed along 4 out (usual 5 out), went 4th 3 out (usual 4 out), kept on same pace, no chance with leaders
tracked leader, led when went left 2nd, made rest, hard pressed last, soon ridden, stayed on well final 50 yards (4 fences omitted)
tracked leaders in 4th, outpaced 4 out (usual 5 out), behind when ridden after 3 out (usual 4 out), well held when hit 2 out (usual 3 out)
led, headed when carried left 2nd, pressed winner, pushed along 3 out (usual 4 out), ridden after 2 out (usual 3 out), kept on and every chance last, no extra final 50 yards
John Louis went up 10lb for scoring at Bangor and made too many mistakes at Wincanton. He'll need to jump much better here. Abbey Storm hasn't been seen since scoring at Southwell in October 2014 but that was his first start in six months so he obviously goes well fresh and he's on the same mark. It's a very long time since Swing Hard won a race though he's run well enough in his last two completed starts to be an obvious threat to all but Pekanheim has run his best races on quicker ground than he'll find here. TIPSY DARA is the only course and distance winner in the line-up and looked on the way back with a very good effort at Newcastle earlier this month so she's given the nod in a tight little handicap.
John Louis 9-2 (11-8) Led, mistake 8th, headed 12th, soon rallied, weakened after 3 out, 5th of 10, 24l behind Daveron (11-5) at Wincanton 2m 4f hcp (4) sft in Jan.
Abbey Storm (IRE) 5-2 (11-4) Tracked leader, peaked 1st, travelling well and led 3 out, ridden between last two, narrowly headed approaching last, rallied to regain lead towards finish, won at Southwell 2m 4f hcp (3) gd in Oct beating Tregaro (10-7) by 1/2l, 4 ran.
Swing Hard (IRE) 6-1fav (11-9) Tracked leaders, led 5th, headed after 8th, led again before 10th, strongly challenged from 3 out, headed last, no extra flat, 3rd of 13, 5 1/2l behind Gonalston Cloud (10-8) at Catterick 3m 1f hcp (4) sft in Dec.
Pekanheim (IRE) 18-1 (11-9) In rear, pushed along and outpaced before 4 out, kept on to go 3rd from 2 out, one pace, 3rd of 9, 7 1/4l behind Rosquero (10-0) at Newcastle 2m hcp (4) sft in Feb.
Tipsy Dara (IRE) 25-1 (10-12) Tracked leaders, left in lead 7th, headed next, every chance 4 out, weakened before 2 out, 3rd of 10, 3 1/2l behind Halo Moon (11-8) at Newcastle 2m 4f hcp (4) sft in Feb.
