held up behind leading trio, hit 12th, 13th and 4 out, disputing 3rd when not fluent 2 out, ridden and no extra before last
disputed 2nd, led 5th until 8th, chased leader, hit 13th, disputing 3rd when blundered 2 out, soon hanging right, stayed on under pressure flat, took 2nd last strides
led until 5th, disputed 2nd, went 2nd 3 out, driven approaching 2 out, led last, stayed on well flat
5th when blundered and unseated rider 2nd
held up in 5th, went moderate 4th 3 out, weakened before next
held up in last pair, struggling when blundered 15th, tailed off
behind, reminders 5th, ridden and struggling 14th, tailed off
took keen hold, chased leaders, led 8th, ridden before 2 out, mistake and headed last, no impression flat, lost 2nd last strides
This is a competitive beginners' chase and we will nominate BLUEGUN to get the better of Hennessy, Fair Point and Mizen Raven. The selection was disappointing at Haydock last time over hurdles but that was a hot race and in his previous three runs he had looked potentially very useful. He looks the type who will make into a decent chaser and he is sure to have been well schooled for this so he could be the one to beat. Hennessy is useful over hurdles but his jumping over the bigger obstacles is a cause for concern and he will need to be a lot more fluent over the fences if he is to land this event; he also has a long absence to overcome. Fair Point finished fourth behind Junior over hurdles last month and he has to be of interest on his chasing bow. Mizen Raven would have claims on the pick of his form over hurdles but he has been disappointing on his last two starts and we are happy to return to Bluegun as the pick.
Bluegun (IRE) 11-1 (11-2) Mid-division, ridden 12th, weakened from next, 11th of 15, well behind According To Pete (10-13) at Haydock 3m hcp hdl (2) gs in Nov.
Fair Point (IRE) 20-1 (11-4) Slight lead 1st to 4th, handy until driven 3 out and weakened soon after, 4th of 7, 21l behind Junior (11-0) at Sandown 2m 4f nov hdl Grd 2 (1) gs in Dec.
Hennessy (IRE) 16-1 (11-4) Prominent, mistake 8th, led 9th, ridden and headed after 10th, weakened before 3 out, 12th of 22, 37l behind Forest Pennant (10-13) at Aintree 3m lst hcp hdl (1) gd in Apr.
Mendo 6-1 (10-5) Held up towards rear, hampered on inner after 3 out, stayed on after next, never troubled leaders, 8th of 16, 21l behind Fair Along (11-5) at Cheltenham 3m hcp hdl (2) gs in Dec.
Mizen Raven (IRE) 10-1 (11-7) Mid-division, not fluent 5th, lost place 7th, weakened 4 out, tailed off when pulled up 3 out in race won by Glenary (9-11) at Aintree 2m 4f nov hcp hdl 0-120 (3) hvy in Nov, 16 ran.
Push The Port (IRE) 6-1 (11-0) In rear, some progress when mistake and hampered 13th, chance had gone when pulled up 3 out in race won by Rate of Knots (10-0) at Towcester 2m 6f beg chs (5) gs in Dec, 10 ran.
Spin The Gin (IRE) 25-1 (11-0) Raced in 8th, struggling after 11th and pulled up at the 12th in race won by Its A Dream (11-0) at Folkestone 3m 1f beg chs (4) gs in Dec, 8 ran.
Tamadot (IRE) 5-4fav (11-12) In touch, tracked leader 7th, led 3 out, no extra when home flat, 2nd of 7, 1/2l behind Maktu (10-9) at Chepstow 3m hcp hdl 0-130 (3) gs in Nov.
