made all, not fluent 5th, awkward 8th (water), good jump and drew clear from 4 out, shaken up run-in, impressive
chased leader, mistake 10th, dropped to last before 12th, pushed along after 5 out, soon struggling and tailed off
tracked leaders, not fluent 13th, slow jump and reminders 5 out, ridden and lost touch before 3 out, stayed on one pace
held up behind leaders, went 2nd after 13th, pushed along and pressed leader before 4 out, soon left behind, tired jump last and kept on one pace
Ashtown Lad got his chase career off to a winning start at Wetherby but was greatly helped by the odds-on favourite turning in a shocker. Flash Collonges was very progressing over hurdles last season and his yard has won the last two renewals so he is greatly respected. Ahoy Senor, a Grade 1 winner over timber, had been headed when unseating his rider at Carlisle but he was up against much more experienced opposition. MR INCREDIBLE met trouble in-running at Naas but came through strongly to win going away and he could take some stopping here if improving for the experience.
Ahoy Senor (IRE) 5-2 (10-10) Led, headed after 3 out, soon pushed along, mistake and stumbled badly 2 out and unseated rider, at Carlisle 2m 4f lst (1) sft in Oct.
Ashtown Lad (IRE) 6-4 (11-2) Made all, ridden 4 out, wandered before 2 out, kept on run in, won at Wetherby 3m (3) gs in Oct beating Buzz De Turcoing (11-2) by 4 3/4l, 4 ran.
Flash Collonges (FR) 9-2 (11-7) Tracked leaders, ridden and challenged before 2 out, led before last, wandered close home but always doing enough, won at Kelso 2m 5f hcp (2) gs in Mar beating Torn And Frayed (11-3) by 6 1/2l, 9 ran.
Mr Incredible (IRE) 11-10fav (12-0) Towards rear, progress to 7th after 7th, headway after 9th, 5th after 3 out, 4th at last, ridden and ran on well run-in to lead closing stages, won at Naas 2m 3f Yielding in Nov beating Indiana Jones (12-0) by 2 1/4l, 18 ran.
