always behind
held up and behind, headway 14th to chase leader, mistake 2 out, led approaching last, soon clear
prominent, led 5th, clear briefly 13th, mistake 2 out, headed approaching last, no extra run in
towards rear, struggling 6th, tailed off when pulled up before 15th
chased leaders, weakened 15th, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out
chased leaders to 4th, soon dropped into midfield, headway 15th to go into third place, stayed to go second after last, no chance with winner
close up, mistake 12th, weakened next, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out
towards rear, struggling halfway, kept on one pace from 2 out
led to 5th, chased leaders until weakened halfway
Coole Abbey has the class to prevail in this hunter chase, with Emperor Ross and Pharmistice expected to give him most to do. At the age of 13, Coole Abbey is approaching the twilight of a career that has taken in both the Cheltenham and Aintree Foxhunter's, but he is as game as a pebble still, and will find this a lot easier than when fourth to Katarino at Aintree on what was only his third outing under the care of Willie Amos. It is hard to see any of these being up to the task, although Emperor Ross appears to be the main danger. He failed to justify odds-on favouritism on his last visit here but that was in softer ground and his stamina will hopefully last out under today's conditions. Pharmistice has failed to complete on each of his last two outings, but has won here in the past so should not be totally written off. The fact that Coole Abbey stays in training suggests that his winning days are not over yet, and on past form he has every chance of adding to his haul.
Toad Hall 25-1 (12-0) Track leader, led 5th to 8th, soon behind, tailed off from 4 out, 7th of 9, well behind Red Rampage (12-0) at Hexham 3m 1f hts chs (H) gd in Apr.
Emperor Ross (IRE) 4-5fav (11-11) Held up in rear, headway when not fluent 13th, challenged after 2 out, no chance with winner flat, 2nd of 7, 19l behind Geordies Express (11-11) at Kelso 3m 1f chs (H) sft in Apr.
Coole Abbey (IRE) 50-1 (12-0) Towards rear, headway 9th, ridden approaching 2 out, kept on one pace, 4th of 30, 19l behind Katarino (12-0) at Aintree 2m 5f hts chs (B) gs in Apr.
Derryrose 20-1 (12-5) 7th of 13, 41l behind Anshan Spirit (11-9) at Aspatria 3m ptp gd.
Pharmistice (IRE) 4-6fav (11-0) 4th of 8, 11l behind Snizort (11-0) at Hexham 3m ptp gf.
Pilot's Harbour 4-1 (12-5) 2nd of 4, 1/2l behind Solway Sunset (12-0) at Aspatria 3m ptp gd.
Primitive Way 6-4 (12-7) 4th of 6, 23l behind Just Whiskey (12-0) at Friars Haugh 3m ptp gd in Apr.
Highland Brig 20-1 (11-7) Chased leaders until lost place 8th, tailed off when pulled up 3 out in race won by Jupiter's Fancy (10-10) at Perth 2m 4f nov hts chs (H) gf, 15 ran.
