held up rear but in touch, mistake 11th, headway 13th, ridden to lead briefly 4 out, weakened approaching 2 out
in touch, ridden and outpaced 12th, rallied when hampered 4 out, chased winner from 2 out but one pace from last
tracked leaders, led 7th, headed 9th, close up and ridden when unseated rider 4 out
prominent and keen, mistake 2nd and 11th, ridden to chase leaders 13th, weakened 2 out
keen in rear, mistake 11th, lost touch 14th
led, headed 7th, led again 9th, ridden from 4 out and headed briefly, ran on well when mistake last
The first time blinkers can help Motcombe confirm her superiority over The Lyme Volunteer and the mount Andy Thornton is readily preferred today. Henrietta has been a frustrating horse to follow this term, so Pougatcheva, who won an amateur riders race here last February, is given the nod as the best of the rest. Venetia Williams' charge is a versatile type that can usually be relied upon to run her race. However, like The Lyme Volunteer, she lacks a change of gears and, as she is not the biggest of animals, she has not look the most natural of chasers on several occasions. Therefore, we prefer to side with Motcombe, who has shaped as if her turn is not too far away with a couple of close efforts in defeat. The headgear should help keep her mind on the task in hand this afternoon and, with Thornton already boasting a respectable 17% strike-rate when partnering Robert Alner-trained chasers, Motcombe looks the sensible option for value in a tricky little race
Henrietta (IRE) 9-2 Prominent, led 16th, headed approaching 3 out, beaten blundered badly last, 2nd of 8, 24l behind Even More at Wincanton 3m 1f hcp chs 0-115 (D) sft in Feb.
Lets Go Dutch 7-1 Held up in mid-division, ridden 12th, weakened after 4 out, 6th of 10, 38l behind Were In Touch at Taunton 3m beg chs (D) gs in Feb.
Motcombe (IRE) 5-2 In touch, not fluent 8th, outpaced approaching 3 out, stayed on flat, 3rd of 8, 8l behind Meggie's Beau at Leicester 2m 7f mdn chs (E) gs in Feb.
Pougatcheva (FR) 11-2 Mid-division, headway 11th, ridden and switched left approaching 3 out, weakened before next, tailed off, 3rd of 10, well behind Another Conquest at Towcester 3m beg chs (E) sft in Feb.
Sink Or Swim (IRE) 20-1 Mistake 1st, always in rear, driven and lost touch 5th and pulled up 2 out in race won by Island Stream at Kempton 2m cnd nov hcp hdl (E) gd in Nov '03, 11 ran.
The Lyme Volunteer (IRE) 4-1 Led, headed next, led again 3rd, headed 6th, driven along 13th, ridden to lead 16th, headed 4 out, no impression approaching last, 2nd of 5, 6l behind Auburn Spirit at Warwick 3m 5f hcp chs 0-135 (C) hvy in Feb.
