left in lead 1st, ridden and headed 3 out, soon one pace
led, blundered and unseated rider 1st
held up in rear, jumped slowly 5th, some headway 13th, weakened 4 out
chased leaders, effort when not much room between last 2, stayed on to chase winner flat
prominent, hampered by loose horse, and nowhere to go when pulled up before 5th
mid-division, badly hampered 5th, not recover, tailed off when pulled up before 4 out
held up, badly hampered 5th, recovered and in touch 8th, went 2nd 14th until jumped slowly 3 out, weakened next
close up, badly hampered by loose horse and unseated rider 5th
held up, left close up 5th, led 3 out, stayed on well
close up, badly hampered, unseated rider 5th
in touch, hampered 5th, weakened 4 out
Coy Lad gets the nod over Aston, Chabrimal Minster and Sports Express. Coy Lad did not jump particularly well when narrowly beaten at Carlisle last time out, but stuck to his task well, and the extra distance here should bring out the best in the nine-year-old who had picked up a point-to-point prior to returning to fences. This will be only his third try over the bigger obstacles, and with Tony Dobbin to guide him round, Pauline Robson's charge can go close. Aston has shaped well on all three starts since coming over from Ireland and it will not be too long before he is placed to good effect, while Chabrimal Minster has in truth been a bit disappointing since scoring at Warwick in February and has topweight to overcome. Sports Express is still looking for her first win and is hard to enthuse about, and all in all we prefer the claims of Coy Lad.
Chabrimal Minster 11-4fav (10-13) Mistakes, held up in rear, headway 9th, ridden to chase leaders 4 out, weakened next, 4th of 7, 48l behind Bellaney Jewel (10-0) at Carlisle 3m nov hcp chs 0-115 (3) hvy in Mar.
Move Over (IRE) 10-1 (9-6) Held up, smooth headway 13th, ridden next, soon beaten, 8th of 11, well behind Undeniable (11-4) at Carlisle 3m hcp chs 0-130 (3) sft.
Try Catch Paddy (IRE) 33-1 (10-6) Held up in rear, headway 4 out, effort when mistake 2 out, faded flat, 5th of 11, 15l behind Bellaney Jewel (10-9) at Kelso 3m 1f nov chs (4) gs.
Aston (USA) 4-1 (10-5) In touch, hit 7th, short-lived effort 5 out, ridden and outpaced from next, 3rd of 6, 16l behind Ross Comm (11-11) at Carlisle 3m hcp chs 0-115 (D) gf in Oct.
Sports Express 7-2 (10-9) Led, mistake 4th, headed 8th, outpaced 5 out, soon beaten, 4th of 5, 30l behind On Y Va (11-2) at Carlisle 2m 4f beg chs (4) hvy in Mar.
Algarve 11-2 (10-9) Led to 5th, stayed chasing leader until 9th, blundered badly 10th, losing touch when pulled up at the 14th in race won by Dante Citizen (11-7) at Hereford 3m 1f hcp chs 0-110 (4) gd, 10 ran.
Coy Lad (IRE) 11-4fav (10-8) Held up and not fluent, mistake 8th, outpaced 10th, stayed on from 3 out, challenged flat, just failed, 2nd of 11, nk behind Mikasa (10-7) at Carlisle 2m 4f nov hcp chs 0-100 (4) sft.
Bafana Boy 100-1 (10-6) Held up towards rear, ridden 6th, never dangerous, 6th of 13, well behind Money Trix (12-2) at Kelso 2m 6f nov hdl (4) gs in Mar.