jumped right 1st, led until 5th, led again 14th, ridden out
held up, in touch, chased winner 2 out, no extra flat
not fluent 2nd, behind, headway 10th, weakend 14th, behind and pulled up before 2 out
in touch, ridden 4 out, weakened over 2 out
hampered and unseated rider 1st
hampered 1st, tracked leader, led 5th until 14th, ridden over 3 out, fair approaching last, stayed on flat to take 2nd close home
tracked leader, disputing 2nd when mistake and unseated rider 8th
Hatch Gate looks a useful recruit to the novice hunter chasing ranks and should be too good for the unexposed duo of Pharly Star and State Express, who both make their first start over regulation fences. Successful under point-to-point rules and in good form in that sphere recently, the selection ran creditably on his hunter chase debut when a fair fourth to Tough Terms at Folkestone a year ago. He has improved since and gets the nod over the nine-year-old Pharly Star, who is probably open to more improvement than State Express. The more exposed Judicious Norman looks the best of the rest.
