tracked leaders, mistake 7th, stayed on approaching last, took moderate 3rd flat
held up, in touch 6th, mistake 4 out, soon ridden, weakened approaching 3 out, poor 5th when jumped right mistake and unseated rider 2 out
chased leaders on outside, niggled along briefly after 5th, went 2nd 4 out, ridden to lead approaching 2 out, drew clear approaching last
led until 7th, ridden after next, 3rd and beaten before 2 out, went 2nd approaching last, no chance with winner
raced keenly, tracked leader, mistake 5th, led 7th, headed approaching 2 out, lost 2nd when weakening before last
PONCHATRAIN, Phoenix Eye and Himba are the three that we'll concentrate on with the first named the selection. This former Irish point winner is no star but he comes into this race on the back of a fair run in a selling hurdle at Chepstow and may be able to step up on the form that he's shown over fences thus far now that the ground has dried out. He's been tried over a variety of trips and it's hard to be certain whether the minimum will suit ideally but he is in form and unexposed over fences. Phoenix Eye is certainly in form and he has run well over course and distance in the past but recent indications have been that the handicapper has his measure following his win at Hereford last month. Himba has run abominably the last twice but he did manage to get his head in front at Folkestone in December and can't be dismissed for that reason alone. Glimmer Of Light is another that needs to put a poor run behind him and he has questions to answer on fast ground so he's readily passed over in favour of Ponchatrain.
Glimmer of Light (IRE) 9-1 (12-0) Held up towards rear, pushed along 8th, soon lost touch, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out, in a race won by Zorro De La Vega (11-7) at Hereford 2m hcp chs 0-90 (5) gd in Mar, 11 ran.
Phoenix Eye 9-1 (10-7) Held up, not fluent 9th, closed to go 3rd after 3 out, ridden when jumped right last, one pace, 3rd of 5, 4 1/2l behind Kervriou (10-12) at Huntingdon 2m nov chs 0-115 (4) gf.
Himba 9-1 (10-13) Prominent, went 2nd 3rd until 6th, mistake 10th, weakened approaching 2 out, 7th and very tired when clambered over last, 10th of 11, well behind Lescer's Lad (11-4) at Towcester 2m 3f hcp chs 0-90 (5) gd in Mar.
Auditor 25-1 (11-3) Tracked leaders, led 2nd, headed 4th, mistake when weakened 7th, pulled up before 11th, in a race won by Kinkeel (10-0) at Towcester 2m 3f cond hcp chs 4yo+ (5) sft in Nov, 11 ran.
Devils River (IRE) 14-1 (11-10) Led to 5th, weakened 7th, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out, in a race won by Zorro De La Vega (11-7) at Hereford 2m hcp chs 0-90 (5) gd in Mar, 11 ran.
Guns of Love (IRE) 10-1 (10-9) Prominent, raced keenly, led 6th, ridden and headed 3 out, weakened after 2 out, 4th of 11, 13l behind Zorro De La Vega (11-7) at Hereford 2m hcp chs 0-90 (5) gd in Mar.
PonchaTrain (IRE) 6-1fav (11-9) Held up in touch, headway to track winner 4 out, every chance last, no extra, 2nd of 18, 2 1/2l behind Beshairt (11-7) at Chepstow 2m 4f sell hcp hdl 0-90 (5) gd.
