jumped left, tracked leader, not fluent 3rd and 5th, challenged when jumped violently left from 4 out, led before next, soon ridden, kept on until headed and no extra towards finish
raced keenly, tended to jump left, held up 4th and last, went 3rd after 3rd, chased leader and effort after 3 out, ridden after last, lost 2nd flat, no extra
chased leading pair on outside, dropped to 4th and last after 3rd, switched inside and headway after 8th, outpaced 3 out, rallied in 3rd approaching last, soon ridden, stayed on to lead towards finish
led, headed before 3 out, weakened next
CHARMINSTER was never travelling after making a mistake at the first in a Listed handicap at the Cheltenham Festival nine days ago and eventually unseated his rider at the fifth. This is considerably easier, however, and Donald McCain's novice is fancied to bounce back to winning ways as Lightening Rod's jumping has let him down the last twice and he is 6lb worse off with Signalman than when beating James Ewart's grey by four lengths at Hexham in November. Devotion To Duty may find this too sharp.
Charminster (IRE) 14-1 (11-7) Pecked 1st, hit next, soon lost place, behind when mistake and unseated rider 5th, in a race won by Hunt Ball (12-0) at Cheltenham 2m 4f Listed Novice Handicap Chase (0-140) (5yo+) (1) gd, 20 ran.
Lightening Rod 11-2 (11-8) Held up in rear, mistake 1st and 6th, headway approaching 4 out, no impression next, 8th of 13, 10l behind Tara Royal (11-3) at Musselburgh 2m hcp chs 0-140 (3) gs in Feb.
Devotion To Duty (IRE) 20-1 (11-9) Held up in touch, lost place 6th, soon beaten, 14th of 16, well behind Allthekingshorses (11-10) at Doncaster 3m hcp hdl 0-130 (3) gd in Feb.
Signalman 2-1 (11-0) Led, hard driven approaching last, headed flat, no extra, 2nd of 6, 2 1/4l behind Pena Dorada (11-0) at Hexham 2m beg chase (5) gd.
