tracked leaders, left pressing winner 5th, every chance from 4 out, stayed on flat
chased leaders, blundered and lost place 5th, weakened 8th, tailed off when fell 3 out
tracked leader, left in lead 5th, ridden after 2 out, jumped left last, driven out
held up, headway 6th, weakened approaching 4 out, hit 3 out
held up in rear, went modest 3rd briefly before 4 out, soon weakened
held up, weakened after 10th, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out
ERNST BLOFELD rates a confident choice here to made a winning debut over fences ahead of Another Display and Our Hero. Donald McCain's gelding won two of his four starts over hurdles but his best effort came when third behind the exciting Diamond Harry at Cheltenham back in January. That effort suggested better was to come and following a subsequent odd-on disappointment the horse made amends when beating a promising Nicky Richards inmate at Ayr in March, a victory that further strengthened the belief that this horse relishes testing conditions. The five-year-old has been off the track since but if returning in the same form and adapting to the larger obstacles he should take this contest before his trainer steps him up in class in due course, with todays trip of 2m6f ideal. Another Display arrives here fit having had a pipe-opener over hurdles at Chepstow recently and should prove the main danger to our selection. That staying on effort over three miles proved the horses stamina and liking for soft ground although in the end the gelding was plugging on past tired horses and whether he will cope with today's sharper trip is a major concern. His rating of 124 over the smaller obstacles also leaves some work to do with the likely favourite but a fitness advantage will help to bridge that gap and we can be sure David Pipe has schooled his charge well ahead of this chase debut, so he must be taken seriously today. Our Hero made his fencing debut in a better race than this one and could prove a threat to all if putting that initial experience to good use here. The six-year-old was comprehensively beaten that day though and will have to jump better if he is to take a hand here, especially given that the gelding's hurdle rating leaves him with a lot to find with the two likely market principles. Denis O'Regan rides Rico Hombre and his assistance may help the lightly raced ten-year-old improve on his one start over fences but we feel that the younger brigade will have his measure whilst Phoenix Des Mottes has plenty of experience but lacks the requisite class to win this should the others complete. We'll side with Ernst Blofeld to make the perfect start to his chasing career today.
Another Display (IRE) 13-2 (11-12) Held up towards rear, weakened after 5 out, 4th of 10, 26l behind Dance Island (10-1) at Chepstow 3m hcp hdl 0-125 (3) sft.
Ernst Blofeld (IRE) 4-9fav (11-8) Tracked leaders, hit 6th, led approaching 3 out, driven out, won at Ayr 2m 4f nov hdl (4) sft in Mar beating Steady Tiger (11-8) by 1 1/2l, 6 ran.
Naval Hero (IRE) 6-1 (12-5) In tch til rdn & wknd app 3 out; to, 7th of 10, well behind Northern Revoque (11-12) at Whittington 3m ptp in Apr.
Our Hero (IRE) 33-1 (11-2) Prominent, ridden after 4 out, weakened next, 5th of 6, 32l behind Burton Port (11-2) at Bangor 2m 4f beg chs (4) sft.
Phoenix Des Mottes (FR) 50-1 (10-7) Held up in touch, lost place 6th, behind 13th, 4th of 5, 46l behind Busker Royal (11-6) at Fakenham 3m nov chs (3) gd.
Rico Hombre (FR) 4-1 (11-0) In touch, ridden and weakening from 3 out, tired out when unseated rider 2 out, in a race won by Rate Of Knots (10-0) at Towcester 2m 6f beg chs (5) gs in Dec, 10 ran.
Young Yozza 28-1 (11-2) In rear, reminders after 5th, hampered 7th, soon behind, 8th of 16, 42l behind Quiny Boy (11-9) at Stratford 2m 3f 4yo cnd hcp hdl 0-95 (5) gf in Mar.
