Westmead
Prince was sent off 2/5 and I decided to oppose him. I expected Westmead
Alec to go clear, but Brick
showed the best EP. Despite a modest break, Westmead
Prince turned 3rd on the rails and I did not fancy my chances,
with the wrong one in front. Westmead
Alec faded quickly and as Westmead
Prince closed up nearing the 3rd, there was only going to be one
winner. Brick
tied up in front, presenting the race to Westmead
Prince.
Lodge
Mentor made all to land the MARCH HURDLE - Division 2 for only
his 2nd win from 17 attempts at the Stow. All
Clued Up continues to frustrate and again mistimed the start and
doing his running when the winner had flown.
Hotdog
Jack landed short odds with the minimum of fuss in the MARCH
HURDLE - Division 1. There was a dead heat for second, between the
Springbok 4th Be
All and Eye
Onthe Flame. Both had suffered early interference.
The
MARCH NOVICE STAYERS - Division 1 looked a weak contest beforehand
and proved to be just that. It finally went to the favourite Poachertink
after plenty of incidents. Greenfield
Fawn. paced up best, but faded from the 5th bend. Joy
Jor ran on and led at the 5th, only to have a fight on the run
in after waiting for a victim. Smooth
Boat was one paced from the last bend and Poachertink
plodded past to win in a bunch finish.
Lemon
Figo showed the best EP in the MARCH BITCHES STANDARD - Division
2, but lost the plot & all momentum at the 2nd bend. Cleo
took over, but did not see which way the eventual winner Daisyfield
Bella went. Daisyfield
Bella quickened up most impressively and ran out a decent
winner. Steady
Scholes checked off at the 2nd bend after a modest start, but
stayed on for second.
Annual
Scholes started just about best in the MARCH STANDARD - Division
2 and led round. He faded on the run in and was joined on the line
by Broadacres
Rob.
Butterbridge
Ali was strongly supported in the ring beforehand in the MARCH
STAYERS - Division 2, but missed the break. Cranham
Girl led round, but was headed on the run to the 3rd bend,
before quickly fading out of it. Droopys
Majella took over and went on to score, despite running wide at
the last bend. Butterbridge
Ali stayed on for second.
Bitofamonkey
was sent off 11/8 F in the maiden puppy open following a runaway P4
win. This was in effect a double upgrade and few pups defy those in
my experience. Bitofamonkey
mistimed the start and could not recover. Droopys
Mumba made all to land an impressive 5th win from 11 Stow
starts. Special
Liberty ran rails from T3 and kept on for second. Bitofamonkey
finished a never nearer 3rd.
Bell
Tempest was another favvy to come unstuck. Despite going down by
only half a length in the novice marathon, he ran a poor race to the
eye. Leaha
Chuita made all, though she was one paced from the 7th bend.
Legal
Major pinged the lids in the veterans open and kicked clear.
Despite, not taking the 3rd bend fluently, he was clear and won
easily. Westmead
Liz was bumped on the run up and stayed on for second.
Julies
Protege broke best in the MARCH STAYERS - Division 1, but could
not sustain the gallop and faded from the 5ht bend. Big
Brett Coal took over at the 5th bend, but was gunned down on the
run in by Pennys
Viktor. BBC is not the force of old.
Vipar
Totti trapped well and led early in the MARCH STANDARD -
Division 1. Mystical
Haka showed the better EP and led at the bend. Mystical
Haka went on to score. Vipar
Totti plugged on for second and this was a somewhat better
showing from the former Arc semi finalist. Mystical
Haka has a tremendous strike rate of 17 from 34 at the Stow. His
early pace is a potent weapon.
Hypatia
Blue looked a little eased in grade in the BITCHES STANDARD -
Division 1 and produced a decent start and he made all. Erinaceous
Rapid stayed on for second. I was surprised that Noirs
Heart was sent off fav after last weeks run and he again was not
fluent at the bends.
Pretty
Mentor made all to land the weak closing MARCH NOVICE STAYERS -
Division 2. She was one paced from the 5th bend and held on by a
head from Acceleration..