led, mistake 9th, reminders after 11th, mistake next, headed 4 out, remained with winner until approaching 2 out, weakening when blundered badly last
held up, improved to 3rd after 9th, led 4 out, ridden and ran on flat
mistakes, soon behind, improved to join tail end of field at 5th, mistake next and lost ground again, reminders 11th, driven after 3 out, headway and not much room on inside approaching last, chased winner last, kept on, no chance with winner
held up, improved to chase leading pair 3 out, weakened next
tracked leaders, ridden 12th, weakened 3 out
not jumped well, chased leader, blundered badly 9th, soon lost place, mistake 12th, weakened next
Grasp has the highest rating of those to have earned one in this hunters' chase and has to be respected following a fair fourth behind Mcevoy at Leicester earlier this month but it is hard to get away from FORGET THE REF, who gets the vote ahead of Roaringwater. The 10-year-old was beaten in a selling hurdle at Fontwell in May when last seen under rules but has come back to form in a recent start in a point-to-point and he has to be considered. James Owen's Bonne Noel's has been running with credit in points of late and makes more appeal than Dellover, who has his first public outing for 720 days. Stroom Bank is capable but inconsistent, while Pouilly similarly is capable of taking a hand in the finish but was well held in his most recent start between the flags. The vote then goes to Robert Arbrey's Forget The Ref, who has shown fair form since coming from Ireland including in this grade at Huntingdon back in May and again when successful in a point-to-point two weeks ago. He looks the one they all have to beat in a race that should not take a great deal of winning.
Bonne Noel's (IRE) 4-1 (11-0) Led to 5 & 11-16; outpcd 3 out, 3rd of 5, 12l behind Madge Carroll (10-7) at Marks Tey 3m ptp gd in Feb.
Dellover 5-2 (12-0) A gng wl; led 4 out; sn in comm, won at High Easter 3m ptp gf in Mar '07 beating Lady Ann Lewis (11-0) by 5l, 8 ran.
Grasp 10-1 (11-5) Held up, effort 4 out, never on terms, 4th of 13, 24l behind Mcevoy (12-6) at Leicester 2m hts chs (6) gs.
Pouilly (FR) 3-1 (12-5) Hdwy 11; led 15; sn clr; hdd app last; one pce flat, 3rd of 11, 1 1/2l behind Viceroy Close (12-5) at Higham 3m ptp gd.
Stroom Bank (IRE) 9-2 (12-5) Cl up til wknd 3 out, 5th of 7, well behind Cop Howe (12-5) at Duncombe Park 3m ptp gd in Feb.
Forget The Ref (IRE) 7-4 (11-10) Held up; hdwy 13; led 3 out; sn clr, won at Marks Tey 3m ptp gd in Feb beating Sha Bihan (12-0) by 6l, 11 ran.
Roaringwater (IRE) 5-1 (11-7) Held up; hdwy 12; led 4 out; pushed out, won at Detling 3m ptp gd in Jan beating Big Moment (11-0) by 3l, 6 ran.
