prominent until pecked 3 out, soon weakened
held up and keen, headway 8th, hit 9th, led after 3 out, rider dropped whip after next, pushed out
tracked leaders, joined leader 8th until ridden after 4 out, weakened approaching 2 out
tracked leaders, lost place 9th, rallied 12th, weakening when mistake 3 out
in touch, mistake 12th, soon weakened
made most until ridden and headed after 3 out, every chance last, stayed on
behind from 7th, tailed off when pulled up before 14th
mistakes, always behind, tailed off when pulled up before 14th
Formerly with Paul Nicholls, Ask The Natives has been in good form in point-to-points and made a winning return to regulation fences when beating Macgeorge at Warwick; form that he is expected to confirm with Moor Lane looking the pick of the remainder. The selection never quite fulfilled his potential for Nicholls but he looks to have found his level now and is the type to run up a sequence in hunter chases. Yeoman Sailor was a useful novice five years ago and has clearly had his problems but made a winning return to rules when successful at Hereford last month. It remains to be seen whether he can reproduce that form and the possibility is that he may bounce so Moor Lane may be of more interest. Andrew Balding's gelding is capable of fair form on his day as when winning at Sandown last month but he unseated his rider at Towcester last time is not the most reliable of performers. Macgeorge is consistent but Richard Lee's 15-year-old is held by the selection and a safer bet looks to be Ask The Natives, who is taken to continue winning ways.
Moor Lane 5-1 Led until not fluent 3rd, led again 6th to 11th, close 2nd when blundered and unseated rider 4 out in race won by Denvale at Towcester 3m hts chs (H) gs in Mar, 14 ran.
Ask The Natives (IRE) 9-4 Held up rear, mistakes 11th and 12th, headway 14th, ridden to lead after 3 out and pecked, shaken up flat, ran on, won at Warwick 3m 2f hts chs (H) gs in Mar beating Macgeorge by 18l, 9 ran.
Gatsby (IRE) 25-1 Mid-division, mistake and unseated rider at the 8th in race won by Katarino at Aintree 2m 5f hts chs (B) gs, 30 ran.
Involved (IRE) 3-1 pulled up in race won by Hot Toddy at Sandon 3m ptp in Mar, 10 ran.
Supreme Silence (IRE) 7-1 Chased leaders, lost place 10th, behind from 4 out, 5th of 7, 26l behind Mister Friday at Market Rasen 3m 1f hts chs (H) gd.
Yeoman Sailor (IRE) 11-4fav Led, headed 3rd, led briefly 7th, left in lead after 9th, joined 4 out, clear approaching 2 out, readily, won at Hereford 3m 1f hts chs (H) gs in Mar beating Caught At Dawn by 8l, 8 ran.
Major Bit 14-1 Behind from 8th, tailed off when pulled up at the 12th in race won by Silver Castle at Bangor 3m hts chs (H) gd in Mar, 7 ran.
Macgeorge (IRE) 6-1 Led until headed approaching 12th, ridden 4 out, soon one pace, 3rd of 9, 10l behind Paddy The Optimist at Hereford 3m 1f hcp chs 0-110 (E) gf.
