chased leader, pushed along and weakened approaching 6 out, mistake and unseated rider 5 out
made all, jumped well throughout, increased tempo from 5 out, well clear 2 out, very easily
held up, not fluent 1st, pushed along and outpaced from 5 out, plugged on in distant 2nd thereafter
STAG HORN, five-times a winner on the Flat and a Grade 2 winner over hurdles just over a year ago, receives weight from his two rivals on his chasing debut though has questions to answer after a poor run in the Lanzarote Hurdle at Kempton last month. However, the 10lb he gets from Mortlach, five-times a winner over fences mainly in small fields like this, should be enough to make a successful chasing bow. Fusain only had one to beat at Newcastle but did it nicely enough.
Mortlach 11-10fav (11-9) Led until hit 1st and headed, led again after 3rd until 5th, not fluent 7th, challenged 5 out, led narrowly next, going best from 2 out, stayed on and well on top at the elbow, won at Newbury 2m hcp (2) gf in Feb beating Fast Buck (11-8) by 4 3/4l, 3 ran.
Fusain (FR) 6-5 (10-5) Jumped well, made all, 2 lengths clear 4 out, ridden to maintain advantage 3 out, 4 lengths clear 2 out, good jump last, stayed on well run-in, won at Newcastle 2m hcp (3) gd in Feb beating Arthur's Quay (11-2) by 7l, 2 ran.
Stag Horn 16-1 (11-2) Chased leaders, tracked leader 2nd until before 6th, weakened quickly tailed off and pulled up before 4 out, at Kempton 2m 5f hcp (2) sft in Jan.
