with leader, narrow lead 6th, headed approaching 8th briefly, pushed along 13th, left well clear approaching last, ridden out
held up, ridden 4 out, no impression on leader when left 2nd approaching last
well behind from 4th, tailed off when pulled up before 12th
narrow leader, headed approaching 6th, led again after 7th briefly, pushed along 9th, jumped right 11th, ridden 12th, hit next and weakened, very tired when fell 2 out, remounted
in 4th when heavy fall 10th
Nonantais receives weight from his two main market rivals but would probably prefer a softer surface and instead we go for Mondial Jack, who gets the nod over Flinders Chase. The selection had looked a useful recruit to the novice chasing ranks when winning races at Hereford and Kempton before unseating his rider at the second fence last time. Granted a clear round, Mondial Jack looks the one to be on. Flinders Chase was unfortunate not to win over fences last term and finally came good over the larger obstacles when landing a weak novices' handicap at Exeter in November. Charlie Mann's gelding has looked held by the handicapper since then and, as we have said, his main rival Tanikos seemed not to stay when beaten behind him at Sandown last month. Nicky Henderson's gelding confirmed the belief that he does not stay much beyond two miles when well beaten on Friday so the main danger looks to be Nonantais. Mark Bradstock's gelding is open to plenty of improvement after just seven career starts and, having made a pleasing start to his chasing career behind Hawk's Landing at Folkestone, he has to be respected. The remainder make very limited appeal in a race that should go to Mondial Jack.
