stumbled and unseated rider 1st
held up behind leaders, led 7th to 8th, led 9th to 11th, led 4 out, jumped right and strongly pressed when bumped 2 out, stayed on well flat
jumped right 1st, left chasing leader next, blundered badly 4th, mistake and lost 2nd next, remained handy, hampered by loose horse 9th, challenging when bumped 2 out, still every chance last, one pace
left in lead 2nd, headed 7th, led 8th to 9th, led 11th to 4 out, close 3rd when hampered 2 out, weakened last
led, jumped right 1st, fell 2nd
jumped erratically, held up, headway 10th, not keen approaching 2 out, rallied and close 3rd when blundered last, not ran on flat
This looks a decent novices' chase with the likes of Silmi and Donaldson both in action but preference is for the chasing newcomer WARSAW PACT, who gets the verdict ahead of the more experienced Predateur. The son of Nikos won well at Uttoxeter in March and has every chance of scoring here but Paul Nicholls has struggled to find another race for the six-year-old who has had 11 starts over fences and he is becoming expensive to follow. Silmi won well at Cartmel last time and has to be respected but like Predateur he has a penalty to carry. Jonjo O'Neill's Donaldson also has a penalty to carry for his win at Towcester and that may anchor him against the selection. Kim Bailey's The Good Guy has yet to reproduce his hurdles form over fences and preference is for Warsaw Pact in the hope that he can do so. Rated in the 130s over timber, the Philip Hobbs-trained gelding is probably high enough in the handicap now over hurdles and looks worth chancing first time out over fences.
Donaldson (GER) 4-1 (11-6) Chased leader, led approaching 6th, hit 9th, just over 2 lengths ahead when blundered and unseated rider 4 out, in a race won by Martys Mission (11-0) at Stratford 2m 4f nov stks (3) gd in May, 7 ran.
Predateur (FR) 2-1 (11-5) Chased clear leading pair until took closer order after 5th, went third 3 out, every chance on bit 2 out, went 2nd flat then ridden and found little, 2nd of 4, 2 3/4l behind Ringaroses (10-12) at Huntingdon 2m 4f nov stks (4) gf in May.
Silmi 3-1 (10-12) Held up, hit 7th, headway 8th, led next, clear from 2 out, eased heavily towards finish, won at Cartmel 2m 1f nov stks (4) gs in May beating Honour's Dream (10-12) by 32l, 9 ran.
Helm (IRE) 18-1 (11-2) Held up, ridden after 7th, soon lost place, 9th of 10, well behind Leo McGarry (11-1) at Huntingdon 3m 2f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gd in Mar.
Marado (IRE) 125-1 (11-0) Soon in rear, fell 8th, in a race won by Shannon Springs (10-11) at Worcester 2m 7f beg chase (4) gs, 9 ran.
The Good Guy (IRE) 8-1 (10-12) Led, not fluent 4th, blundered 6th, headed 10th, soon outpaced, last of 6, 39l behind Coq Hardi (11-5) at Uttoxeter 2m 6f nov stks (4) gd in May.
Warsaw Pact (IRE) 7-1 (11-0) Held up, headway under pressure approaching 3 out, chased leaders next, kept on same pace no impression, 4th of 10, 9l behind The Polomoche (11-12) at Ayr 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-150 (2) gd in Apr.
