tracked leader, mistake and unseated rider 1st
made virtually all, ridden and hard pressed 3 out, headed narrowly 2 out, rallied to regain lead approaching last, bounded clear flat
chased leader, struggling home turn, tailed off
held up in touch, badly hampered by loose horse 3rd, switched to inside 4 out, ridden to challenge 3 out, led narrowly 2 out, headed approaching last, no extra flat
MCFABULOUS was pulled-up at Wincanton on his chasing debut having lost his action on the slippery surface. A smart Grade 2 winning hurdler, Paul Nicholls’ charge heads this at the weights and looks the one to side with. The remainder go chasing for the first time with Camprond winning over timber on a trip over to at Punchestown back in April. The latter had finished fourth in the Coral Cup at Cheltenham before that when Unexpected Party failed to complete while Merchant In Milan has no chance on these terms but is guaranteed prize money if completing.
Camprond (FR) 4-1 (11-4) Tracked leaders, 4th halfway, ridden and headway on inner early straight, led before last where mistake, kept on well run-in, won at Punchestown 2m 3f hcp Yielding in Apr beating Fastorslow (11-11) by 3l, 24 ran.
McFabulous (IRE) 4-6fav (11-4) Led, soon headed and close up, pulled up before 4th, at Wincanton 2m 4f (1) gf in Nov.
Merchant In Milan (IRE) 66-1 (11-0) Raced wide in close 3rd, went 2nd after 6th until shaken up 2 out where awkward, soon ridden and no extra between last two, last of 3, 11 1/4l behind Jerrash (11-7) at Fontwell 2m 3f (4) gs in Feb.
Unexpected Party (FR) 8-1 (11-0) Chased leaders, pushed along and weakened before 3 out, pulled up before next, at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp (1) sft in Mar.
