led, headed 10th, ridden 15th, hit 2 out, all out when edging right flat and hampered close home, no extra
tracked leader, ridden 3 out, carried left and all out when bumped and led close home
towards rear when fell 5th
in touch, ridden and weakened 15th
in touch, ridden to chase leaders 5 out, soon weakened
mid-division, ridden 14th, weakened next
mid-division, hampered and lost place 5th, reminders next, soon ridden and behind
mid-division, ridden 13th, weakened 5 out
in touch, ridden 5 out, one pace from 2 out
tracked leaders, led 10th, ridden after 4 out, blundered 2 out, jumped right last, edged left flat, headed close home
held up towards rear, steady headway from 13th, ridden after 5 out, one pace
towards rear, behind from 6th, stayed on from 4 out
towards rear, behind from 7th
The short list contains Fill The Bunker, Sky Warrior and The Villager, with the vote going to Fill The Bunker. Fill The Bunker put up a solid effort when third over a longer trip here last time and, with his stable in good nick, might provide the answer to this amateur event. A falling mark could bring improvement for the one-time very promising Martha's Kinsman, and Sky Warrior showed a bit more sparkle last time and is not too badly weighted on his best 2005 form. Another Club Royal is struggling to recapture his form but, The Villager catches the eye on a jockey-booking basis and, with her horses running well, a return to form for Venetia Williams' Spring Lover is not ruled out but, overall, we are happy to side with Fill The Bunker.
Spring Lover (FR) 9-1 (11-0) Led to 2nd, with leader, led again approaching 7th to 8th, weakened approaching 4 out, 4th of 9, 31l behind Jimmy Bond (10-11) at Wetherby 2m 4f hcp chs 0-125 (3) sft in Dec.
Martha's Kinsman (IRE) 5-1 (11-3) Held up, headway 8th, pushed along after 13th, weakened 4 out, 3rd of 6, 17l behind King Coal (10-5) at Leicester 2m 7f hcp chs 0-125 (3) gd in Dec.
Luneray (FR) 16-1 (11-9) In touch, effort 4 out, weakened from next, 7th of 10, 38l behind Catch The Perk (11-12) at Perth 3m hcp chs 0-120 (3) sft in Sept.
Seafield Bogie (IRE) 20-1 (11-6) Tracked leader to 6th, stayed prominent, one pace and no impression on leaders from 4 out, 4th of 11, 26l behind Lady of Scarvagh (11-10) at Kempton 3m nov hcp chs 0-120 (3) gs.
Sky Warrior (FR) 14-1 (11-4) Mid-division, headway 6th, pecked 13th, effort after 4 out, kept on same pace, 3rd of 10, 14l behind Abragante (11-8) at Taunton 2m 7f hcp chs 0-120 (3) gs in Dec.
Hunting Yuppie (IRE) 33-1 (11-4) Chased leaders, ridden and weakened 11th, blundered 12th, 12th of 13, well behind Art Virginia (11-11) at Ludlow 2m 4f nov hcp chs 0-115 (3) gs in Dec.
Another Club Royal 11-1 (10-3) Pushed along and behind from 4th, tailed off when pulled up 4 out in race won by Win A Rose (11-0) at Ludlow 3m hcp hdl 0-95 (5) gd in Nov, 16 ran.
Saucy Night 16-1 (11-5) Led to 7th, chased leader, ridden 4 out, beaten when fell at the last in race won by Alphabetical (11-11) at Wincanton 2m 5f hcp chs 0-115 (4) gs in Dec, 11 ran.
The Villager (IRE) 11-4fav (11-10) Held up, in touch, shortlived effort after 4 out, soon weakened, 4th of 6, 36l behind Kosmos Bleu (11-12) at Wincanton 2m 5f hcp chs 0-110 (4) gd in May.
Fill The Bunker (IRE) 4-1 (10-11) Chased leaders, ridden after 15th, stayed on same pace from 3 out, 3rd of 9, 6l behind Touch Closer (11-12) at Ludlow 3m hcp chs 0-125 (3) gs in Dec.
Super Judge (IRE) 10-1 (11-4) Always behind, 14th of 16, 39l behind Mount Benger (10-9) at Hereford 2m 1f nov hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gs in Dec.
Jardin de Beaulieu (FR) 50-1 (11-12) Tracked leader, left in lead 2nd, headed 4 out, soon weakened, 4th of 10, well behind Cloudmor (11-8) at Sedgefield 2m 4f hcp chs 0-95 (5) hvy.
Strong Magic (IRE) 33-1 (10-10) Not jump well, always in rear, 7th of 12, well behind King of Gothland (11-12) at Huntingdon 3m hcp chs 0-100 (4) gs in Dec.
