made all, 6 lengths clear when mistake 5 out, blundered next, eased near finish, unchallenged
always behind, tailed off when pulled up 4 out
tracked leader, effort 4 out, stayed on strongly after last, no chance with winner
mid-division, weakened 5 out, moderate 5th
behind, mistake 11th, pulled up next
mid-division, headway 12th, chasing leaders when fell 5 out
behind, under pressure 8th, soon beaten, tailed off
held up in rear, mistake 4th, headway 7th, mistake next, soon weakened, pulled up 4 out
mid-division, under pressure 5 out, soon weakened, moderate 4th
chased leaders, ridden when hampered 5 out, soon no impression, moderate 3rd
held up in touch, mistake 6th, joined leader 8th, weakened 11th, mistake 5 out, fell next
Tread cautiously in these good-quality novice chases until it's clear which recruits have taken to their new discipline. In addition, this is a complicated contest with Join Together, TEAFORTHREE and Our Island all closely matched one way and another on last season's high-quality hurdle form. Much may depend on their respective fitness levels and Rebecca Curtis' charge is only a narrow preference, especially as Join Together has always looked a chaser in the making. It should be a race well worth watching more than once. Now Then Charlie is an interesting John Ferguson recruit, whilst Gurtacrue and Thelobstercatcher have both shown more than enough over timber to be worth consideration in a fascinating contest.
Ace High 9-2 (10-12) Held up in 4th, headway when mistake 10th, chased winner 3 out, no impression next, 2nd of 4, 18l behind Quartz De Thaix (11-4) at Newton Abbot 2m 5f nov chs (3) gs in Mar.
Black Phantom (IRE) 8-1 (10-8) In touch in 4th, weakened before
Duke Of Lucca (IRE) 25-1 (11-4) Mid-division on inside, lost place 3 out, weakened before next, 18th of 23, well behind Buena Vista (10-3) at Cheltenham 3m lstd hcp hdl (1) gd in Mar.
Gurtacrue (IRE) 6-5fav (11-2) Raced wide, chased leading pair until 6th, outpaced and driven after 3 out, rallied to 3rd approaching 2 out, challenged and not fluent last, stayed on gamely to lead final 75 yards, won at Fontwell 2m 2f mdn hdl (5) gd in Mar beating Allerford Jack (10-13) by nk, 10 ran.
Jimmy The Hat (IRE) 8-1 (11-0) Chased leaders, hard ridden and outpaced over 3f out, rallied approaching final furlong, 3rd of 10, 10l behind Destroyer Deployed (11-10) at Fontwell 2m 2f NH flat (6) gs in Feb.
Join Together (IRE) 8-1 (11-7) Mid-division, lost place approaching 8th, behind when pulled up before 2 out, in a race won by Bobs Worth (11-7) at Cheltenham 3m nov hdl Grade 1 (1) gd in Mar, 18 ran.
Mizen Station (IRE) 25-1 (11-1) Always prominent, outpaced 3 out, rallied next, every chance last, hard ridden to lead flat, stayed on gamely, won at Newbury 2m 5f mdn hdl (3) gd in Mar beating Bless The Wings (11-1) by nk, 10 ran.
Now Then Charlie (IRE) 8-1 (12-0) won at Dingley 2m 4f ptp gd in Apr beating Park Run (11-7) by 8l, 11 ran.
Our Island (IRE) 33-1 (11-7) Chased leaders, mistake 4th, lost place approaching 6th, mistake 8th, hampered 2 out, stayed on approaching last, no chance with leaders, 7th of 18, 24l behind Bobs Worth (11-7) at Cheltenham 3m nov hdl Grade 1 (1) gd in Mar.
Teaforthree (IRE) 28-1 (11-7) Prominent, went 2nd after 3 out, every chance when blundered 2 out, weakened approaching last, 8th of 18, 24l behind Bobs Worth (11-7) at Cheltenham 3m nov hdl Grade 1 (1) gd in Mar.
Thelobstercatcher 14-1 (10-12) With leader, led 4th, headed next, led again 6th, hung left and headed approaching 3 out, faded, 10th of 17, well behind Liberate (10-9) at Haydock 3m hcp hdl (2) gd in May.
