in touch, headway after 12th, mistake 4 out, ridden after last, stayed on to lead close home
in touch, weakened 5 out, tailed off from last, eased over 1f out
held up mid-division, behind from 11th, tailed off 2 out
held up towards rear, weakened approaching 5 out, blundered last when tailed off, soon pulled up
mid-division, headway to lead 13th, headed 2 out, ridden after last, stayed on towards finish
led to 13th, weakened over 1f out
held up, headway 3 out, mistake, led 2 out, ridden after last, kept on close home
chased leader, outpaced after 3 out, ridden after last, not quicken run-in
held up towards rear, ridden, headway approaching 3 out, weakening after last
in touch, blundered 6th, lost place 12th, tailed off from next when pulled up
prominent, ridden, weakened approaching 3 out
Ginger McCain has made more comebacks than Gerry & The Pacemakers and he can score another hit with Cornish Gale, who is selected in preference to Good Bone and Border Fusion. The last named has shaped with promise in a couple of outings at Bangor recently. He lacks a change of gears but comfortably accounted for the likes of Tregastel when they last met. He stays well though and will be a big threat if they only go a sensible gallop. Good Bone justified favouritism with an easy win at Hereford a fortnight ago and has to be respected on that effort. He has more to do on this occasion but has the scope to be on the premises if he is on song. However, Cornish Gale has much more solid form to his name and comes here after a confidence boosting win in the pointing fields at the start of this month. The former Paul Nicholls inmate ran a very respectable race in the Foxhunters at Aintree and is expected to be very hard to master if repeating the performance this afternoon.
Cornish Gale (IRE) 1-10fav (12-7) Made virt all; clr 15; canter, won at Eyton-On-severn 3m ptp frm beating Chaparro Amargoso (12-0) by 12l, 2 ran.
Good Bone (FR) 9-4fav (11-7) Led approaching 2nd to 5th, led again 11th to 12th, led again 4 out, clear 3 out, easily, won at Hereford 3m 1f hts chs (6) gf beating Be My Dream (11-7) by 19l, 10 ran.
Sir Alf 1-3fav (12-7) Held up; led 3 out; drew clr flat, won at Mordon 3m ptp gd beating Heather Lad (12-7) by 3l, 5 ran.
Tregastel (FR) 11-1 (11-9) Led to 12th, weakened after 3 out, 3rd of 9, 29l behind No Retreat (11-11) at Bangor 3m hts chs (4) hvy.
Victoria's Boy (IRE) 11-10fav (12-5) Made all; all out, won at Aspatria 3m ptp gf beating Lodestar (12-5) by 1l, 5 ran.
Border Fusion 5-1 (12-0) Held up, headway approaching 12th, ridden after 4 out, chased winner approaching 2 out, no impression, 2nd of 9, 12l behind No Retreat (11-11) at Bangor 3m hts chs (4) hvy.
Darnil (IRE) 12-1 (12-0) Tracked leaders, weakened 12th, behind when pulled up 2 out in race won by Vinnie Boy (12-0) at Towcester 3m hts chs (3) gs, 16 ran.
Jupiter's Fancy 8-1 (11-7) Towards rear, outpaced after 3 out, rallied after 2 out, stayed on strongly flat to lead near finish, won at Hexham 3m 1f hts chs (6) gf beating Imps Way (11-11) by 1 1/2l, 11 ran.