led, headed 5th, led again after 7th, headed 12th, weakened 3 out
held up, not fluent 2nd, mistake 5th, ridden and weakened 11th
tracked leaders, ridden and weakened 13th
in touch and keen, mistake and unseated rider 6th
tracked leaders, not fluent 13th, ridden to chase leading clear pair 5 out, chased winner from 3 out, rallied flat
tracked leaders, led 5th, headed after 7th, led 12th, ridden approaching last, kept on
keen, held up, mistake 2nd, ridden 12th, some headway after 13th, pulled up before 4 out
held up, mistake 3rd, soon driven, weakened 13th (never going)
Shannons Boy is our suggestion here with a close eye kept on The Nimble Timple in the betting. Dundridge Native deserves to win one of these but her rising mark, jumping problems and effectiveness on heavy ground make her opposable. Amoreigh was one of two finishers in desperate ground at Plumpton where his jumping and stamina won him the day. Those attributes will be important again today and he's due to race from a 2lb higher mark in future; he hasn't got too many miles on the clock and may be able to build on that maiden success. The Nimble Timple showed a degree of promise on debut in Ireland in 2006 but has been beaten a long way in two starts for current connections this year. Both were over hurdles at around the minimum trip and, given his breeding, it would be no great surprise were he to leave that form behind this afternoon; the market should point the way. Market support for our selection would also be encouraging as he was nibbled at at fancy prices on his handicap chase bow at Huntingdon in January. He fell that day and has since been well held over this course and distance but this race doesn't appear to be as strong as that one so we'll give another chance to Shannons Boy.
Dundridge Native 9-2 (11-9) In touch, slow 2nd, weakened 12th, 7th of 8, well behind Standandbecounted (9-7) at Huntingdon 3m hcp 0-100 (4) gd.
Ibberton 9-1 (10-12) Held up, behind when fell at the 8th in race won by Macmar (11-12) at Exeter 2m 7f hcp chs 0-115 (4) gs in Jan, 12 ran.
Mistress Nell 12-1 (11-3) Prominent, lost place and ridden 9th, blundered 10th, tailed off when pulled up in race won by Hello Bud (10-12) at Hereford 3m 7f hcp chs 0-110 (4) gs in Feb, 16 ran.
Venice Road (IRE) 8-1 (11-12) Mid-division, headway 13th, blundered 3 out, soon beaten, 4th of 17, 18l behind Dundridge Native (11-3) at Folkestone 3m 1f hcp chs 0-90 (5) gs in Jan.
Amoreigh (IRE) 7-1 (11-3) Led, headed 2nd, led again 15th, clear 2 out, unchallenged, won at Plumpton 3m 2f hcp chs 0-90 (5) sft beating Fisherman Jack (10-7) by a distance, 8 ran.
Shannons Boy (IRE) 20-1 (11-7) In touch, ridden when mistake 5 out, weakened 3 out, 7th of 15, 26l behind Time Bandit (11-12) at Chepstow 3m hcp chs 0-95 (5) hvy in Feb.
The Nimble Timple (IRE) 125-1 (11-2) In touch and keen, mistake and lost place 3 out, no impression after, 14th of 15, well behind Hibiki (10-13) at Ludlow 2m nov hdl (4) gd in Feb.
Tradingup (IRE) 5-1 (10-1) In touch, mistake 7th and 10th, blundered 13th, weakened 15th, behind when pulled up 2 out in race won by Madam Harriet (10-3) at Chepstow 3m 2f cnd hcp chs 0-100 (4) sft, 10 ran.
Madam Harriet 25-1 (10-3) Tracked leaders, challenged leader after 4 out, led after last, kept on under pressure, won at Chepstow 3m 2f cnd hcp chs 0-100 (4) sft beating Present M'lord (11-3) by 1/2l, 10 ran.
