close up in 2nd when blundered and unseated rider 11th
held up, jumped right 4th, headway approaching 8th, jumped right 4 out, led approaching 3 out, soon clear
prominent, weakened from 8th
prominent, ridden and hit 9th, outpaced when left 3rd 11th, no impresion after
held up, ridden and struggling after 8th, went poor 3rd approaching 3 out, no impression
led, hit 9th, reminders after next, headed approaching 3 out, soon beaten
held up in rear, not fluent 6th, some headway approaching 3 out, never dangerous
always behind, struggling after 7th
held up, some headway 8th, ridden and weakened after 9th
Wild Cane Ridge is nominated ahead of Kasthari in a valuable novice chase. Lenny Lungo's horse has always looked like a chaser so it was a surprise to see him make so many errors at Newcastle on his most recent start. Without them, he would surely have beaten King Killone. The ground should not be an issue here. Kasthari should be a tough nut to crack. He won easily at Doncaster on his most recent visit and would have been our selection had Howard Johnson's team been in better form. Moonlit Harbour has failed to finish in two recent starts. Ferdy Murphy's team have been in better form of late but he would need to improve in order to win this race. Junior Des Ormeaux was allowed to go off at 66/1 on his most recent start. A winner of a maiden point-to-point; he ran a blinder over course-and-distance and it will be interesting to see if there is any market support today. With the remainder rated in excess of 30lb below the market principals, they appear to have little to recommend them and are accordingly passed over. Wild Cane Ridge has the right profile and can atone for his recent flop last time out.
Kasthari (IRE) 9-4 (11-2) Led until 2nd, remained prominent, left in lead 9th, comfortably, won at Doncaster 2m 3f nov chs (C) gd in Dec beating Reel Missile (10-11) by 8l, 6 ran.
Wild Cane Ridge (IRE) 8-13fav (11-6) Led, blundered 9th, blundered badly 11th, headed next, ridden 4 out, hit next, rallied flat, just held, 2nd of 4, shd behind King Killone (10-13) at Newcastle 3m nov chs (C) gs in Nov.
Brora Sutherland (IRE) 80-1 (10-9) Took keen hold, prominent, weakened 3 out, tailed off when pulled up 2 out in race won by Percussionist (10-12) at Carlisle 2m 1f nov hdl (E) sft in Nov, 12 ran.
Jexel (FR) 11-1 (11-2) Tracked leaders until lost place from 6th, tailed off when pulled up 2 out in race won by Birdwatch (10-11) at Ayr 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) sft in Jan, 11 ran.
Junior Des Ormeaux (FR) 66-1 (11-3) Led headed approaching 3 out, ridden approaching 2 out, stayed on from 2 out, no extra flat, 2nd of 10, 3 1/2l behind Roman Ark (11-3) at Ayr 2m 4f beg chs (4) sft in Jan.
Moonlit Harbour 9-1 (11-2) Tracked leaders, ridden in 3rd and beaten when fell 3 out in race won by Aleron (11-2) at Catterick 2m 3f nov chs (4) gd in Jan, 8 ran.
Political Cruise 13-2 (10-4) Pushed along in rear, not fluent throughout, behind when fell 5 out in race won by Flaming Heck (11-12) at Sedgefield 2m hcp chs 0-90 (5) sft in Jan, 10 ran.
Try Catch Paddy (IRE) 12-1 (11-8) Mid-division, ridden 14th, weakened 4 out, 5th of 7, 43l behind Comanche War Paint (11-12) at Taunton 3m 3f hcp chs 0-115 (D) gf in Nov.
