soon led, headed after 4th, left in lead 7th, drew clear before 2 out, very easily
tracked leaders, effort approaching 3 out, mistake next, soon no impression
chased leaders, slow 2nd, under pressure 3 out, weakened next
prominent, mistake 2nd, tracking leaders when fell 5th
held up in rear, slow 7th, headway after 4 out, went 2nd next, never able to challenge
with leader, led 4th, fell 7th
Surprise Vendor is on a roll and bids for hat-trick off a 9lb higher mark after scoring at Bangor. He should be thereabouts again but BIG WATER is just preferred. The latter made a promising start over these fences when still in contention until hitting the last and Alan Swinbank's charge will know more here. Dartford Warbler has yet to match his hurdling form in a couple of starts over the larger obstacles, while it remains to be seen if winning hurdler Cayman Islands handles fences better than Phase Shift did when the latter was well beaten at Wetherby last month.
Croco Bay (IRE) 33-1 (11-0) Chased leaders lost place after 7th struggling in dispute of 5th, when badly bumped 10th, blundered 4 out, 5th of 9, 34l behind Hi George (11-0) at Catterick 2m 3f beg chs (4) gd.
Big Water (IRE) 11-4 (11-3) Pecked 1st, led to 4th, led again 6th to next, with leader, led again 4 out, headed next, ridden and one pace approaching last, no chance with winner flat, 2nd of 5, 14l behind Diocles (10-12) at Catterick 2m 3f nov hcp chs (0-125) (3) gd.
Dartford Warbler (IRE) 9-1 (11-5) Chased leaders, lost place before 7th, chased leaders 8th, weakened from
Suprise Vendor (IRE) 7-4 (11-1) Always prominent, led approaching 3rd, drew clear after 3 out, ran on well (6 fences omitted), won at Bangor 2m 1f hcp chs 0-115 (4) sft in Nov beating Detour Ahead (10-5) by 6l, 5 ran.
Phase Shift 15-2 (10-7) In touch in 4th, pushed along before 4 out, weakened before 3 out, 4th of 5, 31l behind Mwaleshi (10-9) at Wetherby 2m nov chs (4) gs in Nov.
Sir Valentino (FR) 7-2 (11-0) Led, clear briefly approaching 2 out, headed before last, lost 2nd and one pace flat, 3rd of 14, 3 1/2l behind No Such Number (10-11) at Southwell 2m mdn hdl (5) gd.
Cayman Islands 7-4 (11-3) Chased clear leader, led after 4 out, headed before 3 out, soon weakened, 4th of 9, 34l behind Discovery Bay (10-12) at Wetherby 2m 4yo nov stks (4) gd in Apr.
