held up in touch, chased leader after 10th, not fluent 11th, lost 2nd approaching 3 out, led approaching 2 out, soon clear, went right last, hung left flat, lashed out twice when hit
took keen hold, jumped left at several fences, led 1st, headed after 5th, led again approaching 7th, headed after 3 out, soon weakened
chased leader, reminders after 4th, led after next, headed approaching 7th, not fluent 10th, led briefly after 3 out, soon no impression on winner, lost 2nd approaching last
led to 1st, chased leaders, mistake 6th, struggling after 4 out, plugged on to go moderate 2nd approaching last
Nonrunner
The sole course winner in the line-up, The Bar Maid can make a winning chasing debut, with Oulton Broad and Kyper Disco looking best of the rest. The selection did pretty well over hurdles last season, winning once, which was here, and also putting in some good runs in defeat. She is sure to have been well-schooled for her chasing debut and, with that in mind, should go well. Nicky Henderson's Kyper Disco showed promise two years ago but maybe has something to prove now, but the form of Oulton Broad's last two runs is solid, certainly in the context of this race, and he should be on the premises. Minat Boy looks best of the others but, for the selection, we return to The Bar Maid.
Oulton Broad 11-1 Held up, headway approaching 4 out, ridden 2 out, not much room when mistake last, hampered run-in, kept on, 2nd of 6, 2 1/2l behind Stanway at Exeter 2m 3f beg chs (E) gd.
Tubber Streams (IRE) 10-1 3rd of 8, 45l behind Tell The Nipper at Catsfield 3m ptp gd.
Welsh Gold 28-1 Led 2nd to 3rd, weakened after 6th, tailed off when pulled up at the 8th in race won by Jour De Mee at Towcester 2m 3f hcp chs 0-90 (F) sft in Mar, 6 ran.
Redvic 33-1 Mistakes in rear, tailed off when pulled up at the 10th in race won by Ask The Umpire at Chepstow 2m 3f sll hcp chs 0-90 (G) hvy in Mar, 8 ran.
The Bar Maid 5-1 Led until after 1st, chased leader until 8th, ridden next, weakened 3 out, 4th of 14, well behind Abzuson at Towcester 3m nh nov hdl (E) gs in Jan.
Kyper Disco (FR) 14-1 Prominent, ridden to chase leaders 4 out, weakening when mistaken 2 out, 5th of 9, 37l behind Tomina at Newbury 2m 3f cnd nov hcp hdl (E) gs.
Merry Storm (IRE) 20-1 Not jump well in rear, mistakes 9th and 10th, tailed off and pulled up 2 out in race won by Joaaci at Chepstow 3m beg chs (E) hvy in Mar, 10 ran.
Minat Boy 14-1 Tracked leaders, mistake 6th, hit next, ridden after 2 out, kept on one pace, 3rd of 8, 14l behind Tipp Top at Towcester 2m 6f beg chs (E) sft in Mar.
