tracked leaders, mistake 2nd, reminder approaching 9th, not fluent 4 out, ridden approaching 3 out, weakened before omitted 2nd last fence
held up in rear, weakened from 4 out, held up in touch
held up in touch, ridden approaching 3 out, soon weakened, pulled up before omitted fence 2 out
made all, clear approaching 2 out, not fluent last, eased
tracked leaders, went 2nd 2 out, no chance with winner
A trappy beginners' chase where HELLO MOSCOW might be good enough to land the prize on his chasing debut, while Jim Tango and Marleybow are the most interesting of the other quartet. The last-named has not been seen since failing to complete over three miles at Perth in April. He has got home over course and distance before, on fast ground, when runner-up in this race last year. However, he has not yet found his feet over the bigger obstacles and may be a better proposition when handicapping. Jim Tango makes his first appearance over fences and has a fast ground pointing win over this trip to his name. His hurdles form does not leave him much to find to get competitive here and he is respected. Maidstone Mixture wants softer ground to do his best work, and Keene Spirit has what appears to be too much to find, so we will side with Hello Moscow. Jim Best sends him up from Sussex for this, and while the yard has not had many runners of late he can certainly ready them to win first time. Best has a strike rate of two wins from just six runners here since he took out a licence, statistics that command respect, while trip and ground will suit his gelding, who won over hurdles from a mark of 110 in February. We'll take him to land the prize.
Hello Moscow (IRE) 8-1 (11-10) Led, not always fluent, headed and reminders after 6th, remained prominent, weakening when mistake 3 out, behind when pulled up before 2 out, in a race won by Theatrical Moment (11-10) at Towcester 3m hcp hdl 0-120 (3) gd in Mar, 17 ran.
Jim Tango (FR) 13-2 (10-9) Held up in 4th, headway to go 3rd 5th, ridden and every chace 2f out, no extra inside final furlong, 3rd of 4, 4l behind Moorlands Teri (10-5) at Uttoxeter 2m 6f nh nov hdl (4) gf.
Keene Spirit 12-1 (10-12) Tracked leader, hit 7th, ridden 3 out, soon weakened, 4th of 5, 47l behind Western Gale (10-12) at Hexham 3m 1f nov stks (3) gf.
Marleybow (IRE) 18-1 (10-12) In touch, challenged 11th, blundered 13th, soon lost place, behind when pulled up before 4 out, in a race won by Jaunty Flight (10-13) at Perth 3m nov stks (2) gd in Apr, 6 ran.
Maidstone Mixture (FR) 7-1 (10-12) Chased leader, led after 4th, headed approaching 7th, chased leader to 10th, stayed prominent until weakened before 3 out, 5th of 10, 31l behind Shammy Buskins (10-11) at Plumpton 3m 2f hcp chs 0-110 (4) gf in Sep.
