tracked leaders, ridden and weakened 5 out
mid-division, kept on one pace from 3 out
with leader until outpaced 12th, soon well behind
held up, blundered 1st, outpaced 10th, never on terms
led until blundered and headed 12th, driven and weakened approaching 3 out
in touch, outpaced 10th, tailed off 3 out
tracked leaders, lost place 6th, never troubled leaders after
held up, headway 10th, close up and blundered 4 out, soon driven and no impression
mid-division, outpaced 12th, headway to chase leader 3 out, kept on, never troubled winner
HARTBURN, Natiain and Geeveem form our short-list for this Hunter Chase with the first named selected. The selection was made favourite for a fair contest at Kelso on just her second start in this sphere but was held when crashing out at the fourth last. She has questions to answer with regard to her jumping but it's worth taking the chance with this prolific winner between the flags as she receives plenty of weight from her principal rivals. Natiain is something of a Kelso specialist so it remains to be seen how he copes with this track. He has dipped his toe into the waters of handicap company this season and hasn't found it to his liking and it remains to be seen whether he can get back on track having refused to race on his penultimate start. Geeveem departed proceedings early on at Chepstow but the ex-Paul Nicholls trained gelding hasn't got many miles on the clock and could be the sort to make hay in this sphere. He has yet to prove that he's back in form though and the chances of Hartburn are preferred.
Natiain 10-1 (11-9) Led until headed after 4 out, ridden and gradually weakened, 8th of 11, 43l behind Or de Grugy (11-6) at Kelso 3m 1f hcp chs 0-125 (3) gd in Mar.
Ben Nelly (IRE) 40-1 (11-9) Mid-division, lost place 11th, no danger after, 8th of 13, 36l behind Belem Ranger (11-13) at Sedgefield 2m 4f hts chs (6) gf in Mar.
Black Smoke (IRE) 66-1 (11-6) Held up in touch, lost place after 3rd, behind when pulled up 16th, in a race won by Trust Fund (12-3) at Chepstow 3m 5f nov hts chs (5) gd in Mar, 20 ran.
Geeveem (IRE) 7-1 (12-7) Chsd wnr 3 out; no imp, 2nd of 8, 12l behind Pristine Condition (12-0) at Alpraham 3m ptp in Mar.
Henry's Pride (IRE) 3-1 (12-5) Led 7-15 & 16-3 out; rallied to ld nr fin, won at Dalton Park 3m ptp in Mar beating Noble Persian (12-5) by hd, 5 ran.
Jacksonville (FR) 22-1 (10-10) In touch, blundered 4th, tailed off from 5 out, 8th of 12, well behind Nelliedonethat (11-6) at Carlisle 3m 2f hcp chs 0-95 (5) gs in Mar.
Nocatee (IRE) 25-1 (11-7) Always behind, lost touch from 12th, 3rd of 6, well behind The Reverend (12-4) at Kelso 3m 1f hts chs (5) gd in Mar.
Teerie Express 100-1 (11-0) Jumped right throughout, lost place 11th, soon well behind, 8th of 11, well behind Mill Side (10-10) at Newcastle 2m 4f beg chs (4) gd in Oct.
Garden Feature 10-1 (10-7) In tch; eff 15; kpt on one pce, 3rd of 6, 11l behind Minouchka (10-7) at Tranwell 3m ptp in Mar.
Hartburn 2-5 (11-12) Held up; stdy prog to ld 3 out; in comm last, won at Tranwell 3m ptp in Mar beating Gunner Royal (12-5) by 1 1/2l, 6 ran.
