pulled hard, held up, headway 4th, joined winner 3 out, weakened next
held up, ridden and weakened 3 out
held up mid-division, headway to chase leaders after 3 out, kept on one pace
in touch, jumped left and lost place 2nd, behind 5th, slow next, tailed off and pulled up 3 out
chased leader, led 4th, ran on flat
led, headed 4th, ridden and weakened approaching 3 out
held up, ridden and weakened 3 out
held up, ridden and headway after 3 out, never trouble leaders
Handy Money gets the confident vote to win this beginners chase with Alrafid and Carthys Cross rating the main dangers. The selection was a fair second behind Taranis last time out. That form looks rock solid in the context of this race and under similar conditions here he will be hard to beat. Alrafid rates the main danger on his best form especially as the return to this shorter trip looks sure to suit. Carthys Cross is another that could go well on her best form but she was let down by her jumping last time so can not be put forward with any confidence. However he could have been freshened up by an 103 day break. Of the remainder Resplendent Star is from a yard in form and foes well at the track but his overall profile leaves him with a little to find and with this in mind for the winner we return to Handy Money.
Albarino (IRE) 11-2 (11-7) Held up towards rear, ridden and some headway after 3 out, beaten 2 out, 10th of 11, 23l behind Nippy Des Mottes (11-7) at Wincanton 2m hcp hdl 0-125 (3) gs in Jan.
Alrafid (IRE) 10-1 (11-5) Held up in touch, hampered 7th, close 4th 3 out, ridden and slightly hampered next, no extra from last, 5th of 9, 11l behind Royal Hector (11-5) at Fontwell 2m 2f beg chs (E) gs in Nov.
Carthys Cross (IRE) 11-2 (11-2) Held up towards rear, not fluent 10th, weakened 13th, behind when pulled up 4 out in race won by Simon (11-2) at Wincanton 2m 5f nov chs (4) gs in Jan, 6 ran.
Desertmore Chief (IRE) 25-1 (10-7) Chased leader, driven before 9th, 7th and weakening when unseated rider 5 out in race won by Saddlers Cloth (10-7) at Plumpton 2m 4f mdn chs (5) gs in Apr, 8 ran.
Handy Money 4-1 (10-12) Held up, not fluent 1st, mistake 12th, headway 13th, joined winner approaching 3 out, soon outpaced, kept on same pace, 2nd of 4, 9l behind Taranis (11-3) at Wincanton 2m 5f nov chs (3) sft in Mar.
Lord Gunnerslake (IRE) 10-1 (11-0) Mid-division, ridden 8th, weakened next, 8th of 10, 29l behind Glen Thyne (10-0) at Towcester 2m hcp chs 0-105 (4) gd in Apr.
Prince of Persia 12-1 (11-9) Led to 2nd, led 4th to 6, weakened approaching omitted 2 out, pulled up before last pulled up 3 out in race won by Mokum (10-0) at Towcester 2m 3f nov hcp chs 0-120 (3) gs in Apr, 9 ran.
Resplendent Star (IRE) 8-1 (11-2) Mid-division, headway on outside 3 out, mistake 2 out, kept on one pace, 5th of 14, 6l behind Irish Wolf (11-12) at Huntingdon 2m cnd hcp hdl 0-110 (E) gd in Nov.
