close up 12th, weakened after 17th
fell first
chased leaders, pecked 18th, ridden 3 out, weakened before next
held up towards rear, steady headway from 14th, challenged going well from 3 out, chased winner from 2 out until last, weakened run-in
led to 13th, weakened quickly, soon behind
in mid-division until weakened 16th
in touch, not fluent 12th, ridden and weakened after 3 out
mistake 2nd, behind, driven along 12th, blundered 15th, pulled up 16th
behind, mistake 10th, tailed off when pulled up before 4 out
badly hampered 1st, soon in touch, chasing leaders when hit 13th, weakened 2 out
in rear when hampered 1st, not fluent 9th, headway to chase leaders from 4 out, chased winner last, kept on under pressure run-in
never going well, always behind
prominent, led 13th, hit 5 out, headed 4 out, weakened soon after 2 out
chased leader, blundered badly and nearly unseated rider 7th, under pressure 12th, weakening when blundered 17th, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out
mid-division, ridden 3 out, soon weakened
chased leaders, close up when mistake and bumped 3 out, driven and stayed on approaching last, kept on flat
in touch, weakened and behind from 17th
mid-division, weakened 17th
took keen hold, tracked leaders 5th to 12th, weakened 2 out
mistake 2nd, held up well in rear, headway approaching 2 out, stayed on run-in, not reached leaders
behind, lost touch 8th, blundered 13th, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out
behind, hit 11th, headway from 3 out, kept on approaching last, stayed on run-in, nearest finish
mid-division, mistake 10th, ridden and lost place before 16th
mistake 1st, soon in touch on outside, not fluent 5th and 9th, blundered 10th, led 4 out, jumped right 3 out, hard driven, stayed on well flat
Despite encountering some problems of recent times Harbour Pilot is not that long in the tooth at 11 and he should have too much class for his rivals here, with other former decent handicappers Telemoss, Foly Pleasant plus genuine hunter Drombeag the others for the short list. The selection was placed twice behind Best Mate in the Gold Cup itself, and that's not bad form to take into any race, let alone a Foxhunters' Chase. The Noel Meade yard are having a decent week, the gelding stays forever and is clearly at home over course and distance, and the slower pace will help his occasionally iffy jumping, so we take him to be too good. Drombeag may prove to be his biggest danger. J P McManus loves to own the winner of this race and in the eight-year-old he has another with decent claims. After two years off the track he has come back well in top hunting company this season, stamina will be no problem and he looks a serious threat. Foly Pleasant was a consistent handicapper who often went up in the weights for running well in defeat. There are no such problems off level weights at a track he acts on, and on going that should not inconvenience, so expect him to be thereabouts. Meanwhile fellow old stager Telemoss should be better suited by this trip than when tapped for toe at Market Rasen last time and has run a couple of good races in defeat here, so he can also go very well, but Harbour Pilot has the class to win a big one here at last.
Bedtime Boys 8-1 (11-7) Held up, led 10th, stayed on from 3 out, won at Market Rasen 2m 4f hts chs (6) sft in Feb beating Telemoss (12-2) by 3l, 6 ran.
Boneyarrow (IRE) (12-0) Made all, stayed on strongly, won at Bennettsbridge 3m ire ptp sft in Feb beating Alphazar (12-0) by 5l, 13 ran.
Bosham Mill 11-8fav (11-7) Prominent, led 15th, ridden approaching last, headed flat, ran on, 2nd of 10, shd behind Red Brook Lad (12-0) at Ludlow 3m hts chs (5) gd in Feb.
Bothar Na (IRE) 7-4fav (12-0) Held up in touch, headway 5 out, 4th next, improved into 2nd after 2 out, challenged before last, led run-in, all out to hold on near finish, won at Kilbeggan 3m 1f hts chs gd in May beating Wanganui (10-7) by a shd, 16 ran.
Camden Carrig (IRE) 7-4fav (11-10) Made all, clear 18th, eased flat, won at Chepstow 3m 2f hts chs (6) sft in Feb beating Hades De Sienne (11-7) by 21l, 6 ran.
Caught At Dawn (IRE) 6-4 (12-7) 2nd of 7, 15l behind Un Jour A Vassy (12-7) at Garnons 3m ptp gd.
Cobreces 5-1 (12-2) Close up, joined leader 3 out, ridden to lead last, stayed on, won at Haydock 2m 6f hts chs (3) sft in Feb beating Mage d'Estruval (11-11) by 3/4l, 7 ran.
Cracking Dawn (IRE) 6-5fav (11-7) Held up, steady headway from 4 out, chased winner approaching next, kept on well from last, held near finish, 2nd of 6, 1l behind First Love (11-7) at Sandown 2m 4f hts chs (6) hvy in Feb.
Double Ange (FR) 6-1 (11-0) won at Garnons 3m ptp gd beating Club Royal (11-0) by 6l, 11 ran.
Drombeag (IRE) 1-3fav (12-4) Mid-division, mistake and reminder 7th, headway 4 out, went 2nd approaching 2 out, ridden to lead flat, kept on, won at Sedgefield 2m 5f hts chs (6) hvy in Feb beating Solway Sunset (11-4) by 16l, 11 ran.
First Down Jets (IRE) 6-1 (11-6) Mid-division, progress into 5th 4 out, 4th and no impression next, kept on same pace, 3rd of 17, 26l behind General Striker (11-4) at Fairyhouse 2m 6f hts chs sft in Feb.
Foly Pleasant (FR) 8-15fav (12-0) Held up, hit 11th, headway 3 out, led last, pushed clear flat, won at Warwick 3m hts chs (6) sft in Feb beating Irilut (11-9) by 6l, 6 ran.
Gatsby (IRE) 11-4 (12-0) Made all, hit 7th, ridden and in command from 3 out, stayed on well, won at Fontwell 3m 2f hts chs (4) hvy in Feb beating Vinnie Boy (12-7) by 8l, 7 ran.
Harbour Pilot (IRE) 11-10fav (12-0) Always close up, 3rd when slight mistake and ridden 5 out, led next, ridden and strongly pressed 3 out, headed 2 out, kept on same pace, 2nd of 14, 4l behind General Montcalm (11-11) at Leopardstown 3m hts chs gs in Feb.
Irilut (FR) 7-2 (11-9) Held up, headway approaching 12th, led 3 out, ridden and headed approaching last, one pace flat, 2nd of 6, 6l behind Foly Pleasant (12-0) at Warwick 3m hts chs (6) sft in Feb.
Joe Blake (IRE) (12-0) Held up, headway to lead 3 out, battled on, won at Loughanmore 3m ire ptp gs in Feb beating Beachcomber Bay (12-0) by 1l, 8 ran.
Kestick 2-1 (11-0) 2nd of 7, nk behind Dragon's Dream (11-0) at Great Trethew 3m ptp gd in Feb.
No Retreat (NZ) 10-11fav (12-0) Led, headed 2nd, headway 11th, left in lead 2 out, driven out, won at Huntingdon 3m hts chs (6) gs in Feb beating Lucky Bay (11-7) by 9l, 7 ran.
Raregem 4-5fav (12-0) Held up, headway 12th, led on bit approaching 4 out, comfortably, won at Wincanton 2m 5f hts chs (6) sft beating The Kings Fling (11-9) by 4l, 5 ran.
Savati (FR) (12-0) Held up, smooth headway to lead last, easily, won at Farmacaffley 3m ire ptp sft in Feb beating Arctic Copper (12-0) by 7l, 10 ran.
Swincombe (IRE) 12-1 (11-9) Raced wide, held up in rear, headway approaching 12th, led after 3 out, clear approaching 2 out, driven flat, just held on, won at Folkestone 3m 1f hts chs (6) gs in Feb beating Cracking Dawn (11-11) by 3/4l, 11 ran.
Telemoss (IRE) 4-11fav (12-2) Held up in rear, headway to chase leaders 9th, reminders after 4 out, went 2nd last, stayed on, not reach winner, 2nd of 6, 3l behind Bedtime Boys (11-7) at Market Rasen 2m 4f hts chs (6) sft in Feb.
Vinnie Boy (IRE) 10-3 (12-7) Close up, dropped to rear 5th, ridden to chase leading pair from 9th, chased winner approaching 3 out, soon held and no impression, 2nd of 7, 8l behind Gatsby (12-0) at Fontwell 3m 2f hts chs (4) hvy in Feb.
Whyso Mayo (IRE) 12-1 (11-9) Tracked leaders on outer, 6th halfway, close 4th when mistake and unseated rider in race won by General Montcalm (11-11) at Leopardstown 3m hts chs gs in Feb, 14 ran.
