tracked leaders, lost place after 8th, behind 11th, soon pulled up
mid-division, headway after 8th, challenged 12th, led 3 out, clear before next, comfortably
led 1st until 11th, outpaced 12th, stayed on from 2 out, went 2nd before last, no impression on winner
led until 1st, tracked leader until after 6th, ridden 9th, weakened before 12th, well behind 13th, pulled up after
held up, headway from 11th, challenged next until 4 out, weakened after 3 out, pulled up before next
tracked leaders, not fluent 3rd, went 2nd after 6th, challenged 9th, led 11th, headed 3 out, no impression on winner 2 out, lost 2nd before last, no extra flat
towards rear, in touch when blundered 11th, soon struggling, behind when pulled up before next
prominent until 1st, chased leaders, headway 9th, struggling before 12th, behind 14th, went remote 4th before 2 out
in rear, blundered 11th, soon behind, tailed off 13th, pulled up after
It's less than a year since MENDIP EXPRESS was contesting a high-class handicap won by The Druids Nephew at the Cheltenham Festival. A classy winner of three of seven chase starts for Harry Fry, he should give Philip Hobbs plenty of attractive options in the hunter chase arena if retaining just some of his ability, which should be the case at the age of ten. Richmond may enjoy a fitness advantage over the selection, having run a fine second behind Dark Lover in the opening hunter chase of the season at Taunton and looks the main threat, although Kalmonto is also one to keep an eye on. Massively experienced in decent company in France, he's a somewhat unusual import onto the UK hunting scene and it will be intriguing to see what the market makes of him on his UK debut.
Kalmonto (FR) 9-1 (11-2) 6th of 9, 8 1/2l behind Sarah Des Brosses (10-7) at Auteuil 2m 6f lst (1) sft in Jun.
Mendip Express (IRE) 14-1 (11-5) Behind, some headway into mid-division 3 out, soon ridden, weakened before last, 17th of 24, 31 3/4l behind The Druids Nephew (11-3) at Cheltenham 3m 1f hcp (1) gs in Mar.
Richmond (FR) 16-1 (12-6) Held up mid-division, headway to lead 8th, headed 3 out, kept on and held run-in, 2nd of 14, 2 3/4l behind Dark Lover (11-12) at Taunton 2m 7f (6) hvy in Jan.
Bally Sands (IRE) 15-2 (10-13) Led until jumped slowly 2nd (water), prominent, mistake 6th, led 11th, headed next, mistake and lost place 14th, soon behind, pulled up before 2 out, at Ludlow 3m hcp (4) gs in Feb.
Barel Of Laughs (IRE) 8-1 (10-6) Tracked leaders, outpaced 4 out, soon ridden, weakend 2 out, 8th of 9, 37 1/2l behind Pantxoa (10-6) at Ffos Las 3m 1f hcp (2) gd in Aug.
Clonbanan Lad (IRE) 6-1 (11-12) Mid-division, progress to 5th at 9th, 4th and ridden after 4 out, dropped to 5th 3 out, no extra, 7th of 13, dist behind Akorakor (11-12) at Kilbeggan 2m 4f gd in May.
Equity Swap (IRE) 6-4fav (11-12) Tracked leaders, 4th 5 out, not fluent next, ridden in 5th 3 out, soon no impression, 5th of 7, 18 1/2l behind Dandridge (11-12) at Tramore 2m gf in Aug.
Night Alliance (IRE) 10-1 (11-8) Behind, reminders after 7th, weakened 3 out, tailed off, 6th of 10, dist behind Carrigmorna King (11-10) at Stratford 2m 5f hcp (3) gs in Oct.
Sustainability (IRE) 100-1 (11-12) Close up, mistake 3rd and rider lost iron, soon pulled up, at Taunton 2m 7f (6) hvy in Jan.
