held up, ridden after 11th, stayed on from after 4 out, challenged for 3rd 2 out, held when left 3rd briefly last
mid-division, blundered 11th, weakened 4 out, pulled up before 2 out
mid-division until after 10th, tailed off
prominent, led after 9th, hit 12th, soon ridden, headed 4 out, weakening when hit 2 out
mid-division, ridden after 10th, weakened after next
always towards rear, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out
mid-division, blundered 9th, weakened after next, tailed off when pulled up before 4 out
held up, headway 8th, weakened approaching 4 out
mid-division until weakened after 9th, pulled up before 11th
tracked leaders, led 4 out, clear when blundered last, easily
chased leaders, ridden approaching 4 out, disputing 2nd 2 out until fell last
not jumped well, always towards rear, tailed off and pulled up before 11th
soon chasing leader, ridden approaching 4 out, went 2nd after 3 out, no chance with winner when hampered last, lost 2nd towards finish
led until after 9th, chased leader until outpaced approaching 4f out, stayed on again from 2f out, went 2nd towards finish
WHO ELSE KNEW is chosen as the form pick to win this Hunter Chase with both Rien A Pendre and Massini Man worth noting. The selection comes into this race off the back of two promising runs at Wincanton. The first of which he duly won on very testing conditions. He faired well enough last time out when third at the same venue on a fast surface and if he recaptures that form he will not be far away once again. Rien A Pendre comes here after winning two point to points. He looks a progressive type and has the services of a progressive young amateur in Tom David. Whether he can win again now placed under rules remains to be seen but he has to be respected. Massini Man has his first run under rules after showing his well being between the flags this season. Once again he is a little bit of an unknown quantity so he is well worth monitoring in the betting market. However for the winner we return to Who Else Knew.
Who Else Knew (IRE) 6-1 (11-10) Held up, headway 15th, ridden and left 2nd approaching 4 out, kept on one pace, 3rd of 10, 18l behind Turthen (11-13) at Wincanton 3m 1f hts chs (6) gd.
Ashclyst (IRE) 11-1 (12-0) Led til hdd & wknd qckly 2 out, 4th of 11, 14l behind Kitley Hassle (12-0) at Upcott Cross 3m ptp.
Ballyalbert 7-2 (11-0) Led til hdd last; one pce, 2nd of 6, 6l behind Free (11-0) at Brafield-on-the-green 3m ptp in Mar.
Captain Machell (IRE) 8-1 (12-0) (cp) led to 4 & 13-15; wknd qckly app 3 out; pu nxt, in a race won by Tres Bien (12-0) at Upcott Cross 3m ptp, 11 ran.
Even Homer Nods (IRE) 5-2 (12-3) (cp) (tt) held up in tch; ev ch aft 3 out; one pce, 3rd of 7, 1 1/2l behind Chaucers Miller (12-0) at Barbury Racecourse 3m ptp.
Lourd Hymn 4-1 (12-0) Led aft 7 til hdd 14; sn wknd; pu 2 out, in a race won by The Disengager (11-7) at Trebudannon 3m ptp, 13 ran.
Magic Clover (ARG) 33-1 (11-3) Raced keenly, mid division on outside, behind and struggling 9th, mistakes 10th and 11th, pulled up before 12th, in a race won by Rowdy Yeats (11-3) at Ludlow 2m 4f hts chs (5) gd, 17 ran.
Massini Man (IRE) 10-1 (12-0) Ap; chall when blun 2 out; nt rec, 2nd of 9, 2l behind Dan Ryan (12-0) at Cherrybrook 3m ptp.
Pimbury (IRE) 4-1 (11-5) Never fluent, jumped right throughout, held up, headway after 9th, weakened 4 out, 6th of 8, 41l behind Alroyal (11-5) at Newton Abbot 2m 5f nov hts chs (6) gf in Mar.
Rien A Perdre (FR) 11-10 (12-0) Led 14; sn clr; easy, won at Siddington 3m ptp in Mar beating Sheknowsyouknow (11-7) by 30l, 14 ran.
Ryeman 9-2 (12-0) (cp) (tt) led til hdd 13; sn lost plce, 5th of 13, 12l behind Eternal Midnight (12-0) at Flete Park 3m ptp.
Sir Grenville (IRE) 25-1 (12-0) To & pu 13, in a race won by Kitley Hassle (12-0) at Upcott Cross 3m ptp, 11 ran.
Coral Cay 8-1 (11-7) Led 4 til hdd app 9; outpcd app 2 out; kpt on flat, 5th of 6, 4 1/2l behind Silver Monarch (12-0) at Badbury Rings 3m ptp.
Holly Walk 7-2 (11-7) Led to 15; ev ch last; just failed, 2nd of 5, hd behind Nobody Tells Me (12-0) at Cherrybrook 3m ptp.