held up in touch, blundered 8th and lost place, towards rear from 9th, well held when blundered and unseated rider 5 out
in rear and not fluent, reminders and struggling from 8th
held up in touch, chased winner before 9th, mistake 5 out, kept on from 3 out, no chance with winner
tracked leaders in 3rd, mistake 5 out, no impression from next
led to 3rd, in 3rd when blundered 9th, weakened from 5 out
jumped well, tracked leader, led from 3rd, clear 2 out, ridden after last, eased towards finish
held up towards rear, in 5th when fell 5 out
MEDERMIT was supposedly one of the bankers of The Festival but never got competitive in the Arkle won by Captain Chris. He had beaten the winner over 2m5f in the Grade 1 Scilly Isles at Sandown earlier and it's unlikely we'll see him over the minimum trip again. He can gain compensation here though Captain Chris' trainer Philip Hobbs has a live danger in Wishfull Thinking, who ran very well when runner-up to Noble Prince in the Jewson where he couldn't quite match the pace of the winner from the last. Royal Charm looked an exciting prospect when slamming his field on his chasing bow at Exeter and though less impressive when scrambling home from Leo's Lucky Star back on the same track he's definitely one to keep on the right side even in this better grade. Tharawaat isn't in the top echelons of Irish novices but still looks best of the remainder.
Hold Fast (IRE) 6-1 (11-0) Tracked leading pair, left 2nd when slightly hampered 3rd, led 6th, hit 3 out, soon hard pressed, jumped right last, ridden and kept on flat, just held on near finish, won at Southwell 2m nov chs (4) gs in Jan beating Bellvano (11-0) by nk, 4 ran.
Hollo Ladies (IRE) 9-1 (11-4) Behind, struggling 11th, never dangerous, 14th of 20, well behind Holmwood Legend (10-6) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp chs G3 (1) gd in Mar.
Medermit (FR) 11-4fav (11-7) Held up in last trio, 7th and ridden 4 out, headway under pressure to chase leaders on inside approaching 2 out, kept on same pace flat, never reached leaders, 4th of 10, 10l behind Captain Chris (11-7) at Cheltenham 2m nov chs G1 (1) gd in Mar.
Royal Charm (FR) 8-13fav (11-0) Tracked leaders, chased leader from 4th, not fluent 6th, challenged last, ridden flat, headed post, won at Exeter 2m 1f grad ch (2) gs in Dec beating Leo's Lucky Star (11-0) by hd, 5 ran.
Tharawaat (IRE) 14-1 (11-9) In touch, mistake 2nd and 9th, headway 4 out, chased leader next until 2 out, ridden and weakened last, 6th of 20, 8l behind Divers (11-4) at Cheltenham 2m 4f Listed Novice Handicap Chase (0-140) (5yo+) (1) gd in Mar.
Wishfull Thinking 7-2fav (11-4) Tracked leaders, led 6th, joined 13th, ridden after 2 out, narrow advantage when not fluent last, soon headed, kept on same pace flat, 2nd of 11, 4l behind Noble Prince (11-4) at Cheltenham 2m 4f nov chs G2 (1) gd in Mar.
Shirley Casper (IRE) 6-4fav (11-7) Made all, clear from 5th, kept on well from 2 out, pushed out run-in, comfortably, won at Naas 2m beg chase sft in Mar beating Like Your Style (11-12) by 3 1/2l, 16 ran.