led narrowly to 3 out, soon behind, ridden and weakened before next, tailed off
tracked leaders, challenged after 3 out, ridden and one pace in 3rd last, stayed on to take 2nd near finish, no impression
tracked leaders, led narrowly 3 out, ridden flat, edged left and kept on final 100 yards
held up behind in touch, outpaced after 3 out, never on terms, weakened next
held up behind in touch, headway after 3 out, chased winner last, ridden and kept on same pace flat, no impression when lost 2nd near finish
tracked leaders on outside, not fluent 3 out, outpaced next, weakened last
with leader, ridden approaching 2 out, soon lost place, weakened last
tracked leaders, driven before 2 out, soon ridden, one pace last, kept on under pressure flat, no impression
held up in touch, tracked leaders 3 out, ridden after next, one pace last, kept on flat, no impression
Val D'Arc has never won over hurdles and fell when last seen over fences at Market Rasen. Shammick Boy made no impression in the Silver Trophy at Chepstow on his reappearance but this looks a lot easier and he's well treated nowadays while Daveron won over course and distance in April, though is still 8lb higher here. PRETTYASAPICTURE was travelling like a winner when falling at the second-last here last month. To add insult to injury, the handicapper has raised her 7lb since but this looks her trip and she can defy the extra. Philip Hobbs could probably win with the stable cat at present and the lightly-raced Free Of Charge is interesting after finishing fourth on his handicap debut at Warwick.
Val D'arc (FR) 9-4fav (11-12) Led, headed and reminder after 5th, led again briefly next, mistake 8th, 4th and one pace when fell 4 out, in a race won by Arkaim (11-10) at Market Rasen 2m 2f hcp chs 0-125 (3) sft in Nov, 5 ran.
Shammick Boy (IRE) 10-1 (9-7) Held up towards rear, headway after 5 out, ridden before 4 out, soon weakened, 8th of 12, 27l behind Shelford (10-4) at Chepstow 2m 4f hcp hdl Grade 3 (1) sft in Oct.
Daveron (IRE) 28-1 (11-2) Held up in mid-division, some headway 3 out, never on terms, 8th of 20, 16l behind Unique De Cotte (10-13) at Cheltenham 2m 5f cond hcp hdl 0-125 (3) sft in Nov.
Thomas Junior (FR) 10-11fav (11-0) Led until 4 out, soon ridden and weakened, poor 4th when pulled up soon after, in a race won by Lookslikerainted (10-7) at Ffos Las 2m 4f mdn hdl (4) hvy in Apr, 6 ran.
Prettyasapicture 5-4fav (10-11) In rear, headway before 2 out, going well and narrow 2nd when fell 2 out, in a race won by Cloudy Spirit (11-12) at Taunton 2m 3f (4) gs in Nov, 5 ran.
Free Of Charge (IRE) 10-1 (11-8) Chased winner until 3rd, chased leaders, mistake 5th, pushed along before 3 out, weakened approaching next, 4th of 10, 14l behind Mont Royale (11-4) at Warwick 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) sft in Nov.
Just Spot 10-1 (11-4) In touch, ridden to chase leader before 3 out, soon outpaced, lost place when hit next, no impression before last, 4th of 8, 9l behind Thundering Home (11-10) at Exeter 2m 1f con hcp hdl 0-110 (4) hvy in Nov.
Cyclop (IRE) 10-1 (10-4) Tracked leaders on inside, closed 5th, every chance when not fluent 3 out, one pace and no impression before next, not fluent last, 3rd of 5, 12l behind Cloonacool (11-12) at Huntingdon 2m nov hcp hdl 0-120 (4) sft in Nov.
Rest And Be (IRE) 100-1 (10-5) Always towards rear, 9th of 13, 36l behind Earthmoves (10-12) at Taunton 2m 3f nov hdl (4) sft in Nov.
