mid-division, behind 6th, lost touch 8th, pulled up after 11th
prominent and jumped well, effort after 5 out, no impression
mid-division and mistakes, ridden 4 out, soon one paced
made all and jumped well, ridden 3 out, ran on strongly
always behind
mid-division, ridden and lost touch from 13th
There is generally money to be made backing favourites in hunter chasers, and that could be the case here, providing it is Coole Abbey. Last Option is obviously the class horse, having won the Christie's Foxhunter Chase at last year's Cheltenham Festival, but he has not looked the same horse of late, and indeed was well beaten behind Master Wood and Torduff Express at Haydock on Saturday. It remains to be seen whether he can recapture his form, although it can be argued that he is taking longer to get fitter. In what looks to be a match on paper, Coole Abbey should make a bold bid. A course and distance winner twice here in the past, Clare Moore's 11 year-old has no less than 55 lengths to make up on Last Option on Cheltenham running, but since then has continued to perform with credit. He stuck to his task really well when second at Market Rasen last time, and providing there is no rain, should again make a bold bid. Connections obviously fancy their chances or they would not be taking Last Option on.
