tracked leaders on outside, headway 10th, challenged 3 out, every chance when blundered next, soon ridden and one pace, lost 2nd last, no impression flat
led to 2nd, with leaders, mistake 4 out, outpaced next, weakened from 2 out
with leaders, led 5th, mistake 8th, headed narrowly next, lost place 3 out, soon ridden and outpaced, stayed on under pressure to challenge last, edged left and led flat, held on
always prominent, led 2nd to 5th, led again narrowly 9th, hard pressed 3 out, ridden next, headed flat, kept on, held near finish
soon behind, struggling 11th, no danger after
tracked leaders, mistake 12th, outpaced 3 out, soon ridden and weakened
soon lost place and behind, lost touch when pulled up before 7th
held up in touch, ridden to chase leaders 3 out, kept on same pace from next, no impression
Nonrunner
Although not as good as he once was, FUNDAMENTALIST should be too classy for his rivals today in this hunter chase and a reproduction of the form shown when chasing home Templer at Ludlow earlier this month should suffice for the 12-year-old, who gets the vote over Master Billy and Va Vavoom. The last mentioned was having his first start under rules since falling at the Canal Turn in Aintree's Fox Hunters' Chase in 2007 when finishing second to Accumulus at Huntingdon last month but he had shown decent form in points prior to that and has solid claims. The Hookie Bookie is fit from outings between the flags but has not been running that well and of more interest may be Brendan Powell's Blaze Ahead, who ran better at Huntingdon last time. The Richard Mathias-trained Master Billy has been running well in points of late and has to be respected but it is hard to get away from Fundamentalist, who should prove to be too good for this opposition.
Fundamentalist (IRE) 5-1 (12-1) Led, blundered and headed 6th, reminder approaching 9th, chased winner approaching 4 out, one pace, 2nd of 7, 1 1/2l behind Templer (11-13) at Ludlow 3m hts chs (5) gd.
Mandingo Chief (IRE) 25-1 (11-0) Led to 14; kpt on same pce, 3rd of 10, 12l behind Theatre Diva (10-7) at Larkhill 3m ptp gd in Jan.
Blaze Ahead (IRE) 18-1 (11-9) Prominent, led 5th until 8th, ridden 13th, one pace approaching last, 3rd of 6, 6l behind Gentle George (11-12) at Huntingdon 3m hts chs (6) sft in Feb.
Victree (IRE) 10-1 (12-5) Chsd wnr 9; outpcd 3 out; drvn to ld final strides, won at Marks Tey 3m ptp in Feb beating Caveman (12-5) by hd, 6 ran.
Give Me Love (FR) 200-1 (11-5) In touch, lost place before 5th and soon ridden, behind 8th, stayed on from 3 out, went 2nd towards finish, no chance with winner, 2nd of 9, 13l behind Cedrus Libani (11-12) at Ludlow 2m 4f hts chs (5) gs in Feb.
Master Billy (IRE) 4-9 (12-0) Made all; easy, won at Llanfrynach 3m ptp gd beating Scania Classic (12-0) by well, 4 ran.
The Hookie Bookie (IRE) 12-1 (12-7) In tch; chsd wnr app 3 out; kpt on, 2nd of 13, 3l behind Unowatimeen (12-7) at Horseheath 3m ptp in Feb.
Va Vavoom (IRE) 25-1 (11-7) Took keen hold, led and pecked 2nd, soon headed, in touch, led 12th, mistake 3 out, headed flat, stayed on same pace, 2nd of 10, 3 1/2l behind Accumulus (11-5) at Huntingdon 3m hts chs (6) sft in Feb.
Elgar 6-1 (12-0) Led til ur 9, in a race won by Miss Lightning (11-7) at Whitwick Manor 3m ptp in Feb, 6 ran.
