chase winner 2nd, close 2nd when pulled up flat after 5th
chased leaders, lost touch 6th, left tailed off 2nd last
made all, hit 8th, clear approach 2 out, not fluent last, easily
held up, mistake 2nd, chase winner 6th, hit 8th, ridden and mistake 3 out, soon weakenen, fell last, remounted
It would appear that Montalcino has scared away most of the opposition, with what would have been his main rival, No Need For Alarm, bypassing the event. Considered by some to be a bit on the small side to make it to the top over fences, he nevertheless gave a polished performance when slamming First Love by 15 lengths on his chasing bow at Newbury last month, and must surely be a leading candidate for the Arkle Chase. A very useful stayer over hurdles, it is worth noting that he was also considered good enough to be considered for the Melbourne Cup when trained by Venetia Williams, and his present trainer Martin Pipe has the luxury of adding the Royal & SunAlliance Chase to his list of options. The one-time Henry Cecil inmate Hitman was a faller on his chase debut behind Montalcino, and will have to improve to land a blow, while the favourite's stablemate Mark Equal, along with Get The Point and Gimmick, will only benefit from a mishap in this lop-sided contest.
