led, pushed along approaching 4 out, headed next, soon weakened 2 out
chased leaders, mistakes 9th and 10th, soon under pressure and weakened
tracked leaders, took closer order 4 out, led next, clear last, headed last strides, no extra
tracked leader, every chance 2 out, soon hung right, and outpaced, rallied last, ran on to lead close home
Othermix won a three-runner race at Ludlow last month but faces an altogether more difficult task here conceding weight to three potentially decent novice chasers. Nafaath was only beaten three-quarters-of-a-length by subsequent Cheltenham Festival winner Divers over this trip at Musselburgh in February, while Siberian Tiger has already won on the Flat and over timber and is sure to have been well schooled. But we fancy RED HARBOUR to make a winning debut over the larger obstacles, even though he was a little disappointing over hurdles last season. Paul Nicholls' seven-year-old won a Grade 3 handicap at Sandown over the smaller obstacles just over a year ago so has obvious potential if his jumping holds up.
Othermix (FR) 5-4fav (10-12) Led 2nd, not fluent 9th (water), reminders and headed after 13th, quickly led again, left clear approaching 4 out, in no danger after, stayed on, won at Ludlow 2m 4f nov chs (3) gd in Apr beating Benartic (10-12) by 7l, 3 ran.
Nafaath (IRE) 66-1 (10-13) Prominent, weakened before 3 out, 16th of 22, well behind Russian War (10-1) at Aintree 2m 4f Listed hcp hdl (1) gs in Apr.
Red Harbour (IRE) 7-2 (11-7) Held up towards rear, headway when not fluent 3 out, tracking leaders next, soon ridden and beaten, 6th of 11, 11l behind Golden Chieftain (11-9) at Uttoxeter 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-135 (3) gs in Mar.
Siberian Tiger (IRE) 22-1 (11-7) Held up in rear, brought down 7th, in a race won by Sir Des Champs (11-3) at Cheltenham 2m 4f hcp (2) gd in Mar, 23 ran.
