held up in rear, not fluent 9th, stayed on before omitted last, went 3rd towards finish
prominent until 2nd, chased leaders, challenged 7th until 9th, lost place next, well beaten from normal 4 out
held up, mistake 1st, some headway normal 4 out, weakened from next
chased leaders, ridden after normal 2 out, led final bend, clear flat, stayed on
held up, went wrong and unseated rider just before 5th
led 1st until 3rd, prominent, hit 2 out, 2nd and hanging left after omitted last, no impression on winner
led until 1st, led 3rd, ridden and headed final bend, soon beaten, lost 3rd towards finish
A potentially-informative beginners’ chase as it features a Grade 2-winning hurdler in Harry Senior, who could be a very smart performer in the making. Paint The Dream is already 0-6 over fences but has been highly tried. Firak didn’t win over hurdles but his latest third at Bangor is working out well and he should make a better chaser. There are also long-term possibilities about Happygolucky and Thomas Macdonagh but we’ll take EARTH MOOR to cause a small upset as he was very progressive on soft going over hurdles last season and will have had plenty of schooling.
Black Kalanisi (IRE) 33-1 (11-4) In rear, awkward 1st, mistake 3rd, headway to get closer before 4 out, unseated rider 3 out, at Uttoxeter 2m 4f (3) gs in Oct.
Earth Moor (IRE) 4-1 (11-8) Kept wide, chased clear leader, closer at 4th, led after 3 out, clear next, stayed on strongly, won at Wincanton 2m 5f hcp (3) sft in Mar beating Collooney (11-9) by 6 1/2l, 11 ran.
Firak (FR) 3-1 (10-12) Held up in mid-division, headway 7th, close 3rd 2 out, switched left last, held in 3rd flat, 3rd of 9, 1 1/2l behind Fugitives Drift (11-4) at Bangor-on-Dee 2m 4f (3) gd in Sep.
Happygolucky (IRE) 25-1 (11-1) Tracked leaders on inside, driven after 2 out, ridden to chase front pair when left 2nd briefly and hampered last, kept on, 4th of 23, 3 1/4l behind Indefatigable (11-9) at Cheltenham 2m 4f hcp (2) sft in Mar.
Harry Senior (IRE) 16-1 (11-5) In touch on inside, blundered and lost place 5th, soon behind, no danger after, pulled up before 8th, at Cheltenham 3m (1) sft in Mar.
Paint The Dream 9-1 (11-2) Led, slight mistake 3rd, awkward 9th, headed 4 out, slight mistake 3 out, weakened from 2 out, 2nd of 3, 13l behind Grand Sancy (11-2) at Chepstow 2m 3f lst (1) gd in Oct.
Thomas Macdonagh 50-1 (11-1) Tracked leaders, challenged 2 out, soon ridden, no extra and lost place before last, weakened flat, 14th of 23, 17 1/4l behind Indefatigable (11-9) at Cheltenham 2m 4f hcp (2) sft in Mar.
