tracked leader, led 7th to 10th, chased leaders until weakened 3 out
in touch, lost pace 10th, mistake, behind, pulled up before 3 out
held up, headway and in touch 10th, led 2 out, soon ridden, stayed on to chase winner flat
held up behind, headway 4 out, disputing 2nd when hit 2 out, ridden approaching last
led to 7th, tracked leader, led again 10th, headed 12th, soon outpaced, weakened 3 out
in touch, mistake and dropped to rear, soon tailed off, pulled up before 12th
tracked leaders, headway to lead 12th, stayed on from 3 out, ridden out flat
Nonrunner
Nonrunner
An interesting Hunter Chase where there are a few with chances but we will side with Good Bone to outpoint Fin Bec, Arctic Sky and King Eider. The selection is not well in with Fin Bec at these weights when considering official ratings, but the top horse is now 14 and does not win too often, so we are prepared to field against him here with Good Bone. The 10-year-old loves a sound surface and sees out this trip well. His one length defeat by Foly Pleasant last month reads well in the context of this race and he looks up to the task if he can repeat that sort of effort on a track he has won at. Arctic Sky is another who relishes the ground and who was unlucky to depart early on his return from a long absence when tried at Ludlow in February. Connections are persisting with him so don't discount him here, but it would take a brave punter to back him after being unproven for such a long time. King Eider has not been seen since winning over 2m 1f at Sedgefield in 2005, so he too has to prove he is fit enough here, and is one to watch with the future in mind but for today we prefer Good Bone.
Fin Bec (FR) 12-1 (11-9) Chased leaders, weakened from 10th, behind when pulled up at the 10th in race won by Over The Storm (10-13) at Market Rasen 3m 1f hcp chs 0-105 (4) gd, 13 ran.
Arctic Sky (IRE) 9-4 (11-0) Trckd ldrs til wknd 2 out, 3rd of 5, 16l behind Danaeve (11-0) at Garthorpe 3m ptp sft in Mar.
Dannymolone (IRE) 9-2 (12-0) Held up; hdwy 12; led 2 out; rdly, won at Whitwell On Hill 3m ptp gd beating Brown's Beck (12-0) by 5l, 13 ran.
King Eider 7-2 (10-12) Always prominent, led 6th, ridden after 2 out, ran on well flat, won at Sedgefield 2m beg chs (E) gf in Aug '05 beating Dead Mans Dante (10-9) by 3 1/2l, 10 ran.
Temple Dog (IRE) 50-1 (11-5) Prominent, lost place 4th, pushed along half way, detached before 8th, behind when pulled up in race won by Holy Joe (11-12) at Leicester 2m 7f hts chs (3) hvy in Mar, 9 ran.
Vital Spark 20-1 (11-12) Tracked leaders, outpaced 3 out, 5th of 15, 19l behind Gangsters R Us (12-0) at Sedgefield 2m 4f hts chs (6) gf in Mar.
Good Bone (FR) 7-2fav (11-13) Tracked leaders throughout, held from 3 out, 3rd of 7, 16l behind Deckie (12-1) at Towcester 2m 6f hts chs (6) gd in Mar.
Boogy Woogy 16-1 (12-0) A last; t.o 13, 3rd of 6, 37l behind Castleford (12-0) at Alpraham 3m ptp gd in Mar '06.
