held up, not fluent 9th (water), mistake 12th, pushed along after 13th, no impression
led to 4th, chased winner until 7th, weakened after 13th, behind when mistake 2 out
chased leaders, went 2nd 7th, led approaching 10th until 11th, weakened after 13th, behind when pulled up before 4 out
took keen hold, held up, headway 13th, pushed along to chase winner approaching 4 out, no impression
with leader, led 4th, clear approaching 5th until after 9th, pushed along briefly and headed approaching 10th, regained lead 11th, came clear approaching 4 out, ridden out flat
Venetia Williams has her string in good form now and, with improvement to come from his recent reappearance, her representative Spring Lover is taken to open his account for the season and score at the main expense of Show Me The River and She's Our Native. The last mentioned is very well treated on chase form but the Evan Williams-trained mare has given little cause for optimism in previous starts over fences and may be best watched. Sir Brastias should strip fitter for his recent return but may struggle to give weight away all round, while Return Home looks to be in the grip of the handicapper at present. Ferdy Murphy's Show Me The River may do better now that he has had a couple of runs and cannot be ruled out but Spring Lover has slipped to a fair mark now and is taken to make the most of it.
Sir Brastias 7-2 (11-11) Tracked leaders, ridden after 9th, weakening when hung left and blundered 3 out, 3rd of 6, 10l behind Exstoto (11-11) at Uttoxeter 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gs in Oct.
Spring Lover (FR) 50-1 (10-11) Mid-division, mistake 8th, headway to chase leaders when hit 4 out, 4th and no impression when left 3rd at last, 3rd of 14, 7l behind Butler's Cabin (10-6) at Cheltenham 2m 4f hcp chs 0-135 (3) gd in Oct.
Show Me The River 10-11fav (10-8) Tracked leaders, chased winner approaching 4th, no impression, 2nd of 5, 3 1/2l behind Calatagan (11-9) at Wetherby 2m hcp chs 0-135 (3) sft in Oct.
Return Home 11-4 (10-11) Held up in rear, ridden 6th, headway to chase leaders 4 out, weakened under pressure before 2 out, 4th of 6, 12l behind Alrafid (11-6) at Lingfield 2m hcp chs 0-125 (3) gs.
She's Our Native (IRE) 6-1 (10-6) Prominent, ridden approaching 2 out, weakened approaching last, 5th of 6, 12l behind Bold Fire (10-10) at Wincanton 2m 6f mrs hcp hdl (2) gd.
