made all, sometimes inconvenienced by loose horse, clear approaching last, stayed on well
held up in touch in rear, took keen hold, not fluent 6th, mistake 8th, went close 2nd when mistake 4 out, driven 2 out, no impression last
held up, blundered and unsetaed rider 2nd
tracked leaders, went 2nd 8th until 10th, challenged after before 4 out, one pace after 2 out, no extra in 3rd last, dropped to 4th flat
tracked winner until 8th and again from 10th, pushed along 4 out, 4th and one pace 3 out, no extra next, went 3rd flat
There may only be five runners in this but none of the quintet can be dismissed out of hand. Carole's Destrier is the only one with previous chasing experience and he was only beaten a neck at Ffos Las, though the winner didn't frank the form at Wetherby on Saturday. Carraig Mor was quite highly tried over hurdles last season and should do better over fences. Liberty One won twice over timber last term and has also scored twice in point-to-points but Philip Hobbs holds a strong hand with If In Doubt and RETURN SPRING. The pair had an identical rating over hurdles but the latter has had the benefit of a recent run. He finished tailed off at Cheltenham but is a stuffy type who will have come on for the outing and he can make a winning start over the larger obstacles.
Carole's Destrier 3-1 (11-8) Chased leader until 4th, chased leaders, 2nd 13th, led before 4 out, 2 lengths ahead last, headed and no extra near finish, 2nd of 6, nk behind Doing Fine (10-13) at Ffos Las 3m nov hcap ch (3) sft in Oct.
Carraig Mor (IRE) 11-2 (11-12) Led, ridden and headed after 2 out, soon no extra, 6th of 10, 14l behind Le Vent D'Antan (11-12) at Punchestown 2m 4f hdl in Apr.
If In Doubt (IRE) 13-2 (11-4) Held up towards rear, headway on outside after 3 out, ridden to chase leaderes after next, one pace before last, weakened flat, 9th of 23, 8l behind Fingal Bay (11-12) at Cheltenham 3m lstd hcp hdl (1) gd in Mar.
Liberty One (IRE) 9-1 (10-13) In touch on outside, headway to lead 3 out, soon ridden, stayed on well under pressure flat, won at Uttoxeter 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-135 (3) gs in Mar beating Swnymor (10-11) by 1l, 12 ran.
Return Spring (IRE) 13-2 (11-1) Mistake 1st, chased leaders to before 4 out, soon behind, tailed off, 16th of 17, well behind Sybarite (10-0) at Cheltenham 3m hcp hdl (2) gd in Oct.
