led, headed and hit 3 out, ridden approaching 2 out, soon beaten
in rear in 4th, went 3rd from 2nd but left in rear, pushed along 7th, weakened from next, tailed off from 3 out, soon eased
tracked leader and keen, niggled along after 4 out, led 3 out, not fluent 2 out, soon clear and ridden, easily
tracked leaders in 3rd, dropped to rear in 4th from 2nd, pulled up before 3rd
Micky Hammond has his yard in decent heart and has suggested Calfraz should run well fresh. He was second in the race last year and a similar result may be on the cards again, with NATIONAL TRUST the pick. He has been running very well in similar races of late, so much so that he is seeking a hat-trick and adding the support of the official ratings to the weight of the form-book he has to be the selection. Sundae Best last raced against another of Micky Hammond's in the form of Terenzium, but that was a year and a half ago. However, his yard traditionally has a good record at the course and he has had plenty of time to school over the jumps. Corlande loves soft ground and is switched back to the smaller obstacles for the first time in more than four years. He may jump the hurdles a bit big after so long chasing, but on the best of his hurdles form he has claims. Although you can make a case for all in this small field, the strongest call is made for National Trust.
Corlande (IRE) 9-2 (11-8) Tracked leader to 9th, soon under pressure, lost remote 3rd after 4 out, regained poor 3rd 2 out, no chance with front pair, 3rd of 6, 45l behind Fine Parchment (11-4) at Uttoxeter 2m 4f hcp chs 0-115 (4) hvy.
Sundae Best (IRE) 4-1 (11-1) In touch, weakened approaching 3 out, hung right soon after, jumped left 2 out, 4th of 6, 31l behind Terenzium (11-7) at Wetherby 2m 4f nh nov hdl (4) gd in Mar '09.
National Trust 8-13fav (11-0) Tracked leader, led after 3rd, clear approaching 2 out, easily, won at Southwell 3m clm hdl (4) gd beating Caheerloch (11-2) by 13l, 4 ran.
Calfraz 12-1 (11-7) Held up in rear, hard ridden 4 out, soon no impression, 5th of 10, 41l behind Bollin Fiona (11-1) at Carlisle 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-105 (4) sft in Mar.
