led 2nd, jumped right 8th, blundered 4 out, clear approaching 2 out, easy
in touch, in 3rd and driven 12th, pulled up before next
led 1st, headed next, lost place 9th, mistake 11th, soon lost touch
held up, tracked winner 4th & 7th, with clear leader 12th, ridden 14th, weakened 2 out
held up rear, left poor 3rd from 13th
Gungadu, Il Duce and In Accord form the shortlist for this Novices' Chase and the vote is given to Gungadu. The selection was a disappointment at Newbury last time when a beaten odds-on favourite. He hit a couple of fences hard that day and also jumped to the right and he was eventually beaten by Boychuk. But that was only his second run over fences and he is sure to benefit from the experience and he should prove tough to beat today. Il Duce rates the main danger but he is not proven over this trip and we are happy to take him on today. In Accord was well beaten last time but he will relish today's testing conditions and if the selection fails to fire then he could be the one to profit. Major Catch may prove best of the rest but we are happy to return to Gungadu who should have too much class for his rivals today.
Gungadu 4-9fav (11-9) Led, headed last, hung left under pressure, no impression flat, 2nd of 5, 1 1/2l behind Boychuk (11-5) at Newbury 3m nov chs Grd 2 (1) gs in Nov.
Il Duce (IRE) 4-7fav (11-6) Soon prominent, reminder 4th, led 12th until 4 out, led again 3 out, soon clear, comfortably, won at Taunton 2m 7f nov chs (3) gs in Dec beating Back For The Craic (10-9) by 13l, 5 ran.
Always Waining (IRE) 6-1 (10-13) Behind, headway 6th, weakened 9th, tailed off when pulled up 2 out in race won by Heez A Dreamer (11-0) at Uttoxeter 2m 6f beg chs (4) hvy in Nov, 12 ran.
In Accord 11-4 (11-2) Disputed 2nd place, blundered 12th, close up and still every chance 3 out, weakened next, 3rd of 4, 14l behind Pretty Star (11-2) at Newbury 3m beg chs (3) gs in Dec.
Major Catch (IRE) 33-1 (11-0) unseated rider in race won by Heez A Dreamer (11-0) at Uttoxeter 2m 6f beg chs (4) hvy in Nov, 12 ran.
