led, jumped badly left throughout, headed after 7th, led again approaching 10th, ran out 3 out
tracked leader, slow 2nd, led after 7th, headed approaching 10th, soon weakened, left in remote 2nd 3 out
tracked leaders, left in clear lead 3 out, eased after last
FINGAL BAY's failure to give 5lb to Dynaste at Cheltenham looks better in the light of the winner's subsequent easy success at Newbury. He should be able to give weight to these with Coole River arguably his most interesting rival. Emma Lavelle's charge was a very smart hurdler for Jessica Harrington a couple of years ago until injury intervened. Ashbourne Folly has shown nothing so far while Chartreux races for the first time since finishing tailed off at Towcester in January.
Fingal Bay (IRE) 5-4fav (11-7) Took keen hold, tracked leader, led just before 3 out, ridden before last, headed and not pace of winner flat, 2nd of 5, 4 1/2l behind Dynaste (11-2) at Cheltenham 2m 4f nov chs (2) gs in Nov.
Ashbourne Folly (IRE) 50-1 (10-10) Mid-division, lost place 7f out, ridden and behind 5f out, tailed off, pulled up after, in a race won by Mr Hooper (11-3) at Chepstow 2m NH flat (6) gd in Mar '11, 13 ran.
Chartreux (FR) 8-11fav (11-0) Led, jumped left, headed 8th, weakened 14th, lost remote 2nd approaching 2 out, finished very tired, tailed off, last of 4, well behind Universal Soldier (11-0) at Towcester 3m beg chase (4) sft in Jan.
Coole River (IRE) 5-2 (11-10) Made all, ridden and strongly pressed from after 3 out, edged clear approaching last, stayed on well under pressure, won at Navan 2m nov hdl G2 (1) hvy in Feb '10 beating Lucky William (11-5) by 3 1/2l, 6 ran.
