tended to jump left, led and soon clear until jumped slowly and reminder 5th, clear again before 10th, slowed badly and mistake 4 out, headed before next, lost 2nd 3 out, ridden and weakened before next
tracked clear leader until dropped to rear 4th, outpaced 7th, not fluent next and reminder, struggling when reminder again before 12th, tailed off, jumped left final 3
raced keenly, held up in 4th place until good jump tracking clear leader 4th until mistake 12th, closing 2nd again 4 out, led before next, clear from 2 out, easily
tracked leaders in 3rd, hit 4th, went 2nd 12th until pecked 4 out, 2nd again 3 out, held when hit next, no chance with winner
Innocent Girl and Meldrum Lad have both won novice handicaps recently. But the latter was beaten back over hurdles last time despite racing off a much lower mark and the former has been raised 11lb for winning at Exeter. Ashcott Boy remains out of form but ORBASA (NAP) was runner-up to Fox Appeal in a tougher handicap than this at Newton Abbot last week and a repeat effort would make him hard to beat.
Orbasa (FR) 5-2fav (10-5) Tracked leaders, 2nd 10th, led next, headed and dropped to 3rd 3 out, 2nd again before next, driven and every chance from 2 out until no extra from last, 2nd of 6, 2 1/2l behind Fox Appeal (11-3) at Newton Abbot 2m 5f hcp (2) gf in Apr.
Ashcott Boy 14-1 (11-8) Tracked leaders, blundered 1st, soon lost place, never dangerous, 6th of 10, dist behind Wells De Lune (11-10) at Wetherby 2m 3f hcp (3) gs in Nov.
Meldrum Lad (IRE) 9-4fav (12-4) Held up in rear, took keen hold, headway 11th, not fluent 4 out, challenging when bumped next, led 2 out, shaken up and stayed on well, comfortably, won at Exeter 2m 3f hcp (4) gd in Apr beating Triple Chief (11-8) by 2 3/4l, 8 ran.
Innocent Girl (IRE) 8-15fav (10-0) Chased leaders on outside, 2nd from 5th, nudged along and challenging from 2 out, hit last, ridden flat, no impression final 100 yards, 2nd of 5, 1 3/4l behind Listen To The Man (11-12) at Wincanton 1m 7f hcp (3) gf in Apr.
