chased leader until 7th, stayed handy, ridden after 3f out, headway to challenge 2f out, led last, caught near finish
led, strongly pressed 2f out, headed and blundered last, no extra flat
held up, headway and went 2nd 4f out, challenging when blundered badly 3f out, stayed well there until hit last and no extra flat
held up, mistake 5th, headway to chase leaders 6th, went 2nd next until weakened 4f out
in touch, blundered 2nd, headway 8th, hit 4f out, soon ridden and lost place, rallied under pressure from 2f out, stayed on well flat, lead near finish
held up, headway to challenge 11th 4f out, soon weakened
chased leaders until lost place 8th, soon well behind, tailed off and pulled up approaching 2f out
Although there is not much between them on official ratings, BOB HALL should be able to get the better of Royal Auclair over this trip and can land this hunters' chase. The selection ran some very good races over this sort of trip when handicapping, and has winning form with cut in the ground. This is his first start since patently not staying in last year's Grand National and with the O'Neill runners in such good form we will take him to score. Royal Auclair also acts with cut and was just below top class when at his best, running fourth in Kicking King's Gold Cup four years ago. However, this trip does look a bit on the short side for him and we will take him on. Former Alner inmate Pimbury is lightly-raced and has shown enough ability to suggest he can get involved on going he handles, while Herecomestanley was good enough to win a Kempton handicap chase off 127 a year ago, but this trip is shorter than ideal, and Contraband might be more effective in this sphere than when too highly tried in recent times. Bob Hall gets the vote.
Herecomestanley 20-1 (11-4) Held up, weakened after 8th and pulled up 3 out in race won by Lysander (10-0) at Aintree 3m hcp hdl 0-130 (3) sft in Oct, 18 ran.
Marblehead (IRE) 7-1 (12-0) Led, ridden and headed 14th, weakened approaching 4 out, tailed off when pulled up 5 out in race won by Robbers Glen (12-0) at Stratford 3m 4f hts chs (2) gd in May, 14 ran.
Bob Hall (IRE) 100-1 (10-11) Towards rear, struggling halfway, tailed off when pulled up at the 19th in race won by Comply Or Die (10-9) at Aintree 4m 4f Grand National (1) gd in Apr, 40 ran.
Contraband 14-1 (12-0) W ldrs to 14, 3rd of 17, 8l behind Dancer Life (12-0) at Black Forest Ldg 3m ptp gd in Jan.
Royal Auclair (FR) 9-1 (11-5) Tracked leaders, raced keenly, pushed along approaching 16th, weakened 5 out, tailed off when pulled up 2 out in race won by Surface To Air (11-5) at Uttoxeter 4m lst hcp chs (1) gd in Jun, 16 ran.
Pimbury (IRE) 4-1jt-fav (12-0) Hdwy 9; led 2 out; all out, won at Barbury Castle 2m 4f ptp gd in Jan beating Orient Legend (12-0) by 1l, 13 ran.
Ten Horse Power (IRE) 33-1 (12-0) Lost tch 13; t.o & pulled up in race won by Aiteen Thirtythree (11-7) at Larkhill 3m ptp gs in Jan, 16 ran.
