chased leaders on inside, went right 2nd, awkward 4th, pushed along before 3 out, weakened before next
mid-division, headway chasing leaders before 7th, 2nd well before 3 out until approaching 3 out, chased leaders, weakened 2 out
held up towards rear, headway on wide outside chasing leaders before 3 out, ridden into narrow lead 2 out, headed last, edged left run-in, one pace in 3rd
held up in rear, mistake 2 out, never involved
held up towards rear, headway chasing leaders after 7th, challenged in 2nd 3 out, led last, hard ridden run-in, just held on
towards rear, hit 7th, never on terms
keen, led until narrowly headed 2 out, chased leaders, rallied gamely run-in, just held
chased leader until pushed along after 7th, chased leaders, weakened quickly before next
took keen hold, chased leaders, went right 3rd, reminders after 5th, weakened before 3 out
took keen hold, raced wide towards rear, some headway into mid-division before 4th, towards rear and struggling 6th, tailed off and pulled up before 2 out
This is not as interesting as the first division, though some powerful NH stables have runners. Challico beat a subsequent hurdle and chase winner in a bumper here in May of last year. He’s a half-brother to Blu Cavalier, who runs in the opener, and also a staying chaser so should have a future over obstacles. But Alan King’s string can do little wrong at present and GOOD MAN PAT (NAP) changed hands for £70,000 after romping away with a maiden point in Ireland in May and that could be money well spent. D'arcy's Sound, also successful between the flags, has a lengthy absence to overcome but newcomer Master Work was sold for 40,000 euros as a three-year-old so is worth a market check.
Challico 16-1 (10-12) Ran green, mid-division, towards rear after 5f, closed 7f out, switched left 2f out, challenged over 1f out, hung right and led entering final furlong, stayed on well, won at Exeter 2m 1f (6) gf in May beating Adrrastos (10-12) by 2 1/2l, 10 ran.
D'Arcy's Sound (IRE) 2-1 (12-1) Ww, prog to jn ldrs 3out, 3rd 2out, ld last, kow under pressure run-in, won at Glenbane 3m mdn gs in Nov beating Telmadela (12-1) by nk, 11 ran.
Good Man Pat (IRE) 7-1 (11-11) Mid-div, 8th 1/2way, prog cls 3rd bef 3out & ld next, asserted bef last & qcknd clr, easily, won at Necarne 3m mdn gs in May beating Present From Dubai (11-11) by 12l, 16 ran.
Linkenholt (IRE) 40-1 (11-2) Held up in rear, never a factor, tailed off, 6th of 9, dist behind Irish Prophecy (11-0) at Kempton 2m (5) gd in Feb.
Master Work (FR) Network gelding out of Mascarpone.
Mister Drifter (IRE) 33-1 (10-12) Held up early, headway chasing leaders in 3rd at 4th, weakened 3 out, last of 6, dist behind The Hollow Ginge (10-12) at Newton Abbot 2m 6f (4) hvy in Oct.
Rocket Ronnie (IRE) 12-1 (10-12) Tailed off 2nd, went 4th before 2 out, 4th of 9, dist behind Amour de Nuit (11-10) at Newton Abbot 2m 1f (4) gs in Sep.
The Ibbster (IRE) 9-2 (12-0) (bl) 2 handlers; rcd wide; led 3 til hdd 6; rdn 12; 2nd/4th til led 14; all out, won at Eyton-on-severn 3m gs in May beating Thinking Out Loud (12-0), 9 ran.
Young Phoenix (IRE) 12-1 (11-2) Tracked leaders on inside, 2nd 6f out until ridden 5f out, 2nd again briefly 4f out, weakened over 1f out, 3rd of 12, 15 1/2l behind Mulcahys Hill (11-2) at Stratford 2m (5) gs in May.
Winter Squaw 10-1 (11-9) Led 2 til hdd & no ex last, 4th of 10, 2 3/4l behind L'chamise (10-2) at Trebudannon 2m 4f mdn gd in May.
