held up in 3rd and last, mistake 2nd, went 2nd 3 out, ridden after next, soon no chance with winner
made all, hit 4th, mistake 8th, drew readily clear between last 2, unextended
tracked winner, hit 7th, outpaced 4 out, lost 2nd next, soon no chance with front pair, eased flat
Disappointingly just the three runners line up for this novices' chase but there is no shortage of quality among the trio with Colin Tizzard's Hell's Bay, the only one with chasing experience, setting a decent standard having earned a rating of 143 following his second to Time For Rupert at Cheltenham recently. Nicky Henderson's Finian's Rainbow showed a decent level of form over hurdles last season when winning here and at Ascot with fair efforts in defeat in the Challow and at the festival but he may have to settle for minor honours behind SANG BLEU. Paul Nicholls has his team in fine form at present and this French import made an encouraging start to his career for new connections when finding just Me Voici too good in the Finale Juvenile Hurdle at Chepstow and he can make a winning chasing debut.
Hell's Bay (FR) 33-1 (11-7) Held up in rear, headway 11th, tracked leading pair on inside, going well before 3 out, left 1 length down in 2nd 2 out, weakened flat, 2nd of 10, 8l behind Time For Rupert (11-2) at Cheltenham 2m 4f nov chs (2) gs.
Finian's Rainbow (IRE) 11-2 (11-7) Mid-division, headway to track leaders 4 out, effort when left 3rd briefly 2 out, soon ridden and one pace approaching last, 5th of 17, 7l behind Peddlers Cross (11-7) at Cheltenham 2m 5f nov hdl Grade 1 (1) gd in Mar.
Sang Bleu (FR) 4-7fav (11-6) Tracked leader, not fluent 1st, lost 2nd when mistake 4th, took 2nd again next, led 2 out, ridden approaching last, all out, won at Huntingdon 2m 4yo nov hdl (2) sft in Feb beating Stars Du Granits (10-12) by 1/2l, 5 ran.
