led, headed on long run to 2 out, soon weakened
held up towards rear, took keen hold, headway on inside 4th, not fluent next, weakened from 2 out
mid-division, headway after 4th, not fluent 5th, went 2nd and not fluent next, weakened on long run to 2 out
tracked leaders, went 2nd after 3rd until 6th, lost place 7th, stayed on flat
held up towards rear, ridden 7th, always behind
mid-division, mistake 1st, headway 5th, led on long run to 2 out, headed last, no extra flat
held up in rear, headway after 7th, weakened 2 out
prominent, lost place after 5th, reminders after next, rallied on long run to 2 out, led and not fluent last, pulled left towards finish, ran on
tracked leader until after 3rd, remainded close up, hard ridden and edged right approaching last, stayed on under pressure flat
ISTRON BAY is preferred to Reland and Shindig despite all three having something to prove. Istron Bay failed to complete on his sole start over fences and is still a maiden but he has shown ability, hails from a yard going well and didn't run too badly at Warwick on his seasonal reappearance when possibly in need of the outing. Reland is related to winning chasers in France so it would be no surprise to see him step up on the form that he has shown over hurdles and go close from his lowly mark. Shindig was pulled up on debut for Tim Vaughan but the best of his efforts in Ireland came on a firmer surface and he could be worth another chance. It's the nature of the race that not many can be ruled out as most of the field have bits and pieces of form that would put them in contention but the selection's dam was a useful chaser and the larger obstacles could bring out the best in Istron Bay.
Roofing Spirit (IRE) 7-1 (11-5) Chased leaders, pushed along when not fluent 6th, jumped right and outpaced from next, weakened after 3 out, 4th of 5, 32l behind Pret A Thou (11-5) at Warwick 2m hcp ch 0-110 (4) sft in Jan.
Shindig 12-1 (10-5) Held up, headway 9th, chased winner approaching next, jumped left 12, lost 2nd 3 out, 3rd and tired when pulled up before 2 out, in a race won by Just Smudge (11-4) at Ludlow 2m 4f hcp chs 0-125 (3) sft in Nov, 7 ran.
Tyup Pompey (IRE) 18-1 (10-2) Held up in rear, not always fluent, mistake 10th, soon ridden, behind 13th, 9th of 11, well behind Sunnyhillboy (11-9) at Ludlow 2m 4f hcp chs 0-130 (3) gd.
Wise Men Say (IRE) 20-1 (11-12) Prominent, pushed along and reminders approaching 5th, soon lost place, last of 11, well behind Near The Water (10-11) at Plumpton 2m hcp hdl 0-110 (4) sft in Jan.
Istron Bay 15-2 (11-3) Held up, towards rear, headway 4th, weakened after 3 out, mistake 2 out, 7th of 12, 26l behind Tom O'tara (9-11) at Warwick 2m nov hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gs.
Jordan's Light (USA) 2-1fav (11-7) Mid-division, headway 5th, chased clear leader approaching 3 out, no impression when eased flat, 2nd of 9, 11l behind Beautiful Vision (11-3) at Ludlow 2m sell hdl (5) gs.
Turbo Shandy 8-1 (9-13) Held up in rear, stayed on from 2 out where mistake, well held in 3rd when mistake last, 3rd of 8, 11l behind Pret A Thou (11-1) at Lingfield 2m hcp chs 0-125 (3) hvy.
Tempting Paradise (IRE) 20-1 (10-7) In touch, reminder after 5th, weakened 3 out, 6th of 13, 19l behind Russian Flag (11-5) at Warwick 2m hcp chs 0-120 (3) sft in Dec.
Reland (FR) 4-1 (11-7) Led after 1st until approaching 3rd, led before next, ridden and headed approaching 2 out, weakened between last 2, left 2nd last, 2nd of 6, 17l behind Salontyre (9-9) at Bangor 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gs.
