chased winner, mistake 15th, struggling 4 out, weakened before next
held up, headway before 10th, chased winner from 3 out, no impression from last, one pace
soon chasing leaders on outside, lost place 3rd, closed 7th, led 11th, headed next, 4th and no extra 2 out
never really travelling in rear, behind 12th, pulled up before 3 out
held up, headway 4th, not fluent 10th, mistake 11th, not fluent 13th, disputing 2nd 3 out, 3rd and no extra before last
chased leaders, lost place after 5th, reminder after 6th, not fluent 10th, behind 12th, pulled up before 14th
chased leaders, lost place 3rd, pushed along after 10th, behind before 13th
made most, clear flat, stayed on gamely
Solid Strike opened his account over fences at Hexham having slipped down the weights but is back up in distance for this. Magic Of Milan is another with something to prove over this longer trip after placing over 2m5f here but Conas Taoi had Pretty Miss Mahler back in third when successful over track and trip on his penultimate start and could go well again. Chase The Wind hasn’t won since 2016 and FINAGHY AYR was last successful in 2017 though that was off a higher mark over these fences. A recent third at Hexham suggests Ian Duncan’s charge will be winning again soon and he gets the nod.
Chase The Wind (IRE) 3-1 (11-11) Led to 11th, led 12th to 4 out, every chance 2 out, soon ridden, weakened towards finish, 3rd of 9, 5 3/4l behind Astracad (11-8) at Newcastle 2m 7f hcp (4) gs in Mar.
Solid Strike 11-8fav (11-12) Chased clear leader 2nd, closer 3 out, switched right to lead between last 2, driven out, won at Hexham 2m 4f hcp (5) hvy in Mar beating Well Joey (11-2) by 4l, 8 ran.
Pretty Miss Mahler (IRE) 14-1 (11-5) Prominent, led 5th, headed after next, led again 11th, headed 14th, rallied after next, no extra approaching last, 3rd of 10, 8 1/4l behind Conas Taoi (10-4) at Carlisle 3m 2f hcp (4) gs in Feb.
Finaghy Ayr (IRE) 12-1 (10-5) Towards rear, headway approaching 19th, went never nearer 3rd last, 3rd of 12, 3 1/4l behind Weststreet (11-10) at Hexham 4m hcp (4) hvy in Mar.
Conas Taoi (IRE) 9-4fav (10-11) Tracked leaders, pushed along 12th, ridden 4 out, mistake 2 out, kept on to go 3rd towards finish, 3rd of 7, 7 1/2l behind Fifty Shades (11-1) at Fakenham 3m hcp (4) gd in Mar.
Onderun (IRE) 11-2 (10-10) Led until mistake and headed 8th, in front again next, mistake 10th, headed approaching 5 out, chased leader, weakened before next, went poor 3rd 2 out, 3rd of 5, 19 1/4l behind Newberry New (11-10) at Newcastle 2m 7f hcp (4) hvy in Mar.
Magic Of Milan (IRE) 7-1 (10-8) Led until 2nd, chased leaders, pushed along before 3 out, 3rd before next, went 2nd last, no chance with winner, 2nd of 9, 3 1/4l behind Up Helly Aa King (11-4) at Carlisle 2m 5f hcp (4) hvy in Mar.
Purple Harry 22-1 (10-10) Raced wide, chased leaders, hit 3rd, pushed along and outpaced before 4 out, tailed off next, soon pulled up, at Hexham 2m 7f hcp (5) hvy in Mar.
