tracked leading pair, chased winner before 4 out, ridden 3 out, upsides winner when blundered last, driven and stayed on
close up, mistake 12th, ridden 3 out, weakened after next
made most, ridden 3 out, joined last, driven out
keen held up in touch, ridden 13th, weakened 3 out
with winner until after 14th, pulled up before 4 out
STORMHOEK was a promising novice hurdler a couple of years ago before injury intervened. His stable is adept at producing horses fit and well after a lay-off and it's significant that Sam Twiston-Davies has chosen the chasing newcomer ahead of stablemate Kaybeew. He receives the nomination in a tricky little handicap with thorough stayer Rate Of Knots likely to need this after a break and course specialist Quattrocento still a couple of pounds higher than when successful over C&D in May and out of sorts lately. Piran has looked a shadow of his former self since returning from injury.
Rate of Knots (IRE) 7-1 (11-7) Held up in last pair, headway to 4th at 16th, went 3rd next, ridden after 3 out, stayed on same pace before next, 3rd of 7, 3l behind Victory Gunner (10-10) at Folkestone 3m 7f hcp chs 0-130 (3) sft in Mar.
Quattrocento (FR) 11-1 (10-5) Mid-division, outpaced after 3 out, no impression after, hampered last, 6th of 13, 30l behind Swing Bill (11-1) at Cheltenham 3m am hcp chs 0-140 (3) gd.
Kaybeew 14-1 (11-7) Held up, headway 7th, ridden before 4 out, soon struggling, 6th of 10, 41l behind Henry Hook (11-5) at Taunton 3m nov hcp 0-115 (4) gs in Mar.
Stormhoek (IRE) 5-1 (11-0) Towards rear, headway 5th, chased leaders 7th, left 2nd last, 2nd of 12, 8l behind Organisateur (11-1) at Taunton 2m 3f nh nov hdl (4) gs in Apr '10.
Piran (IRE) 50-1 (10-4) Tracked leaders, ridden and struggling approaching 7th, losing touch from 9th, tailed off, 6th of 11, well behind Oscar Prairie (10-11) at Hereford 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gd.
