shade keen, tracked leader, hit 9th, narrow lead 4 out, fell 2 out
led until narrowly headed 4 out, chased leader until next, 4th and held when mistake and left 3rd 2 out, weakened
tracked leaders in 4th, closer in 3rd at 10th, went 2nd 3 out, led on bit approaching 2 out, 3 lengths ahead last, stayed on well
chased leading pair until 10th, dropped to last place 12th, struggling and no chance after, left remote 4th 2 out, tailed off
held up last, jumped slowly 8th, closer in 4th 12th, left in 2nd 2 out, 4 lengths down and no impression last
An interesting novices’ chase, despite the small field. Slate House was a decent hurdler but has yet to show much sparkle over fences, though has had wind surgery. HUNTSMAN SON has also had a wind op and will enjoy the quicker going. He is probably worth another try over 2m4f but Slate House’s stable companion Molineaux shouldn’t be far away and makes more appeal than Air Navigator, who is also penalised, and Indian Hercules.
Air Navigator 6-1 (11-11) Chased leaders, 2nd travelling well after 4 out, led before 3 out, headed approaching the last, stayed on same pace run-in, 2nd of 8, 1 1/4l behind Cracking Destiny (10-5) at Wincanton 2m 4f hcp (4) gd in Jan.
Molineaux (IRE) 5-1 (11-2) Tracked leaders, 2nd before 4 out, held by winner towards finish, stayed on, 2nd of 7, 1l behind Captain Cattistock (11-8) at Exeter 3m hcp (3) gs in Feb.
Huntsman Son (IRE) 7-4 (11-8) Chased leaders, ridden 3 out, went 2nd flat, kept on, no impression on winner, 2nd of 3, 2l behind Ballywood (11-1) at Doncaster 2m hcp (3) gd in Dec.
Indian Hercules (IRE) 14-1 (10-13) Tracked leaders, blundered 10 out, ridden before 4 out, weakened before 2 out, 8th of 11, 30 1/2l behind Just A Sting (11-4) at Exeter 3m hcp (3) gd in Nov.
Slate House (IRE) 10-1 (11-0) Close up in rear, mistake 9th, not fluent 5 out, soon outpaced, ridden and weakened before next, tailed off, last of 5, dist behind Castafiore (10-7) at Haydock 2m 4f (1) gs in Jan.
