held up tracking leaders, unseated rider 6th
with leader, weakened 4 out
made virtually all, clear 3 out, ran on well
in rear, jumped slowly 1st and 2nd, soon tailed off, pulled up after 8th
held up, headway 8th, chased winner 4 out, soon weakened, burst blood vessel
tracked leaders and keen, jumped left 7th, behind from 8th, plugged on to take 3rd last, jumped left
RIPPLING RING has plenty in hand on official ratings here and if he jumps around then he should have too much class for this lot, while Mount Benger and Chevy To The Levy can fill the frame. The Paul Nicholls-trained selection finished well beaten behind stablemate American Trilogy in the Vincent O'Brien County Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival last time out and it is interesting that the yard has chosen now to send him chasing for the first time. This is an easier assignment in theory than a competitive Festival handicap and he does act on a sound surface, so with the yard in form we will side with him. Mount Benger is around a stone inferior to the selection on hurdles form and was an admirable servant for Jim Best until being claimed after a Chepstow win last time. He is unproven on ground faster than good and it remains to be seen if his new stable can elicit further improvement, but nonetheless there is no reason why he can't show up well. Chevy To The Levy acts on fast ground and this trip looks to be his optimum. He too has around a stone to find with the selection and given that he has been out of sorts just lately we will take him on. Jimmy Bedney has seen plenty of action at this track without winning. He has stamina to prove, but he has acted well on fast ground in the past and might be capable of making the frame. Little else appeals and Rippling Ring is as confident a selection as one can afford in a beginners' chase.
Chevy To The Levy (IRE) 22-1 (11-7) In touch, pushed along 8th, already weakened when mistake 3 out, 6th of 9, 31l behind Patsy Finnegan (11-6) at Ludlow 2m 5f nov hcp hdl (3) gd in Feb.
Jimmy Bedney (IRE) 8-1 (10-12) Prominent, raced keenly, ridden approaching 3 out, weakened after 2 out, 3rd of 11, 13l behind Zorro De La Vega (11-7) at Hereford 2m hcp chs 0-90 (5) gd.
Mount Benger 8-15fav (11-2) Made all, pushed along 4 out, soon under pressure and strongly challenged, clear approaching last, ran on, won at Chepstow 2m clm hdl (5) gd beating Masjoor (11-10) by 5l, 10 ran.
Own Up 40-1 (10-10) Prominent, ridden 7th, weakened approaching 3 out, 14th of 18, well behind Lindeman (10-8) at Warwick 2m 5f mdn hdl (4) gd.
Rippling Ring (SAF) 33-1 (10-12) Mid-division, hit 4th, weakened after 3 out, 23rd of 27, well behind American Trilogy (11-0) at Cheltenham 2m 1f hcp hdl Grd 3 (1) gs.
Sirius Storm (IRE) Evensfav (12-5) Led to 5; led aft 9; drew clr app 3 out; unchall, won at Cottenham 3m ptp gd in Feb beating Saafend Rocket (12-5) by 7l, 7 ran.
Kingoftheswingers (IRE) 10-1 (10-11) Held up in rear, effort 6, weakened 3 out, tailed off and pulled up 2 out in race won by Calgary Jock (11-10) at Bangor 2m 1f nov hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gd in Aug, 9 ran.
