tracked leaders, left in lead before 7th, headed after 9th, led again 10th, headed briefly 3 out, kept on, driven out
in rear and in touch, went 2nd at the 11th, led briefly when blundered 3 out, ridden and hung left before last, kept on and held towards finish
led to 4th, every chance 3 out, weakened before last
in touch, led 4th, pulled up quickly before 7th
tracked leader, led after 9th, headed 10th, weakened 4 out
Nonrunner
Nonrunner
Rhapando won a similar race at Leicester in December but couldn't handle the subsequent weight rise and step-up in grade at Newbury later that month. Worthy Award, a winning point-to-pointer, has shown some potential over hurdles but turning to regulation fences could bring about major improvement so he's definitely one to note. Royal Macnab went up 8lb for last month's victory at Musselburgh and never really threatened the winner at Catterick last time but NOMADIC STORM has really got the hang of the job and two of his last three victories have been over the minimum trip on this track. He should stay the extra and gets the nod though watch out for any money for Jack Albert, who looked a smart prospect when completing a double last spring.
Nomadic Storm 10-11fav (10-10) Not fluent, tracked leaders, bumped 1st, went 2nd 8th, ridden after 4 out, closed 3 out, hampered next, led last, driven and stayed on flat, won at Southwell 2m nov hcp chs 0-120 (4) sft beating Got The Nac (11-8) by 3 1/2l, 4 ran.
Worthy Award (IRE) 10-1 (11-9) Mid-division, hard ridden and outpaced after 4 out, plugged on from 3 out, no impression, left 4th last 50 yards, 4th of 12, 5l behind Thundering Home (10-9) at Exeter 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gs in Oct.
Royal Macnab (IRE) 9-2 (11-1) Led, headed 2nd, tracked leaders, chased winner after 2 out, kept on and no impression, 2nd of 6, 11l behind De Vous A Moi (10-5) at Catterick 2m 3f nov hcp chs 0-120 (4) sft in Feb.
Parting Way (IRE) 7-2 (11-1) Raced wide, hit 1st, tracked leader until 8th, lost place and struggling in rear next, headway approaching last, plugged on into modest 3rd run-in, 3rd of 5, 36l behind Regal Flow (10-11) at Plumpton 2m 4f nov hcp chs 0-120 (4) hvy in Jan.
Jack Albert (IRE) 5-1 (11-2) Pressed leader, led 4th until fell 3 out, in a race won by Ben Cee Pee M (11-2) at Market Rasen 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gd in Apr, 15 ran.
Rhapando 8-1 (11-2) In touch in 5th, weakened before 4 out, went right and mistake 4 out, pulled up, in a race won by Azure Fly (11-0) at Newbury 2m 6f nov hcp chs 0-125 (3) gs in Dec, 11 ran.
Frizzo (FR) 15-2 (11-8) Led until 3rd, tracked leader until 8th, weakened next, tailed off, 3rd of 4, well behind Nomadic Storm (10-10) at Southwell 2m nov hcp chs 0-120 (4) sft.
