held up, headway to track leading when mistake 13th, driven after 3 out, led 2 out, driven right out, flat
in rear, headway 10th, weakened and pulled up before 14th
close up, tracked leader 11th, led 3 out, headed 2 out, soon no chance with winner, finished tired
in touch, ridden along from 8th outpaced 14th, not fluent next, kept on well flat, not reach leaders
led to 3 out, weakened under pressure before next
took keen hold, tracked leader to 11th, outpaced 15th, stayed on flat
close up when blundered and unseated rider 9th
Kingston Banker can be another winner for the Alner stable, with Ballinure Boy, Bush Hill Bandit and Little Farmer looking the best of the opposition. A three-time Hunter Chase winner, the selection was pretty good under Rules too and is holding his form well. He hails from a good stable, has a very good amateur rider booked and looks set to make them all go. Ballinure Boy has disappointed when tried in hunter chases, but Belvento has achieved ratings of around the 90 mark in the same sphere, which is good enough to make him a challenger here. Bush Hill Bandit won a hunter chase at Fakenham last April, and a repeat of that type of effort would give him place prospects. The form of Little Farmer's third to Right To Reply at Newbury in March reads very well in the context of this race, so grant him all due respect, but Storm Castle probably is past his best and Dick McCarthy, whilst he has been in winning pointing form, looks to have a few pounds to find on the selection, which is, once again, Kingston Banker.
