held up in touch, headway to chase leaders 2 out, switched right last, one pace run-in
in touch, headway and went 2nd soon after 2 out, every chance last, unable to quicken run-in
chased leaders, led 4 out, blundered and headed last, stayed on same pace run-in
in touch, headway and chasing leaders, blundered 3 out, weakened soon after
always in rear, mistake 3rd, struggling after 4 out, tailed off
held up in rear 6th, hit 12th, headway on inside from 4 out, led last, driven and led on well run-in
chased leaders, hit 3rd, led 12th to 4 out, blundered and weakened next
led, hit 11th, headed next, hit 14th, challenged 15th, blundered and weakened 4 out
in touch, not fluent 13th, ridden and bumped 3 out, weakened after
A nice early season pot offered here and it has drawn a useful field to the party, with Mr Pointment the pick despite top weight, while Always Waining and Nice Try look decent sorts. Mr Pointment makes his debut or Paul Nicholls here and of course he was last seen out when soundly thrashed by his now stablemate Denman at Newbury in February. Good as Denman is, that was almost certainly not the true running of Mr Pointment, who had previously finished close to the very useful Don't Push It here over 2m 5f. Provided he sees out this three miles then he looks a solid proposition here and his new trainer and change of scenery can also help to get him back on an upward curve. Always Waining won at both Ayr and Uttoxeter is the spring before going okay on his return last month. A 1lb rise since then won't make his task any easier but he looks sure to be thereabouts. Nice Try has not been seen since back-to-back wins at Chepstow and Bangor in the spring and his yard hasn't fully got going again just yet, though a big run is not ruled out. Boychuk will surely strip fitter for his return behind Always Waining last time and can make his presense felt, while Keenan's Future has a featherweight and stays well so can't be written off either. However Mr Pointment looked likely to make a decent handicap chaser last season and he can reinforce that notion today.
Mr Pointment (IRE) 4-1 (11-9) Jumped slightly left throughout, chased winner, ridden after 3 out, no chance from next, 2nd of 3, well behind Denman (11-12) at Newbury 3m nov chs (2) sft in Feb.
Joaaci (IRE) 33-1 (11-6) Held up, never dangerous, 13th of 16, well behind Iron Man (11-9) at Market Rasen 2m 6f hcp chs 0-145 (2) gd in Sept.
Always Waining (IRE) 10-1 (11-9) Mid-divison, ridden to chase leaders 4 out, no extra run-in, 3rd of 16, 7l behind Iron Man (11-9) at Market Rasen 2m 6f hcp chs 0-145 (2) gd in Sept.
Boychuk (IRE) 7-1 (11-9) Mid-division, headway 4 out, no impression from next, 5th of 16, 11l behind Iron Man (11-9) at Market Rasen 2m 6f hcp chs 0-145 (2) gd in Sept.
Commercial Flyer (IRE) 16-1 (11-6) In rear, not fluent 2nd, struggling 8th, pulled up after 9th pulled up at the 9th in race won by Joes Edge (10-6) at Cheltenham 3m hcp chs Grd 3 (1) gs in Mar, 23 ran.
Ardaghey (IRE) 12-1 (11-1) Towards rear, blundered 14th, headway 5 out, chased winner approaching 2 out, one pace, 2nd of 10, 9l behind Simon (11-2) at Southwell 3m lst hcp chs (1) sft in Jan.
Nice Try (IRE) 5-1 (10-11) Chased leaders, led 10th, ridden approaching 2 out, hit last, stayed on well, won at Bangor 2m 4f hcp chs 0-135 (3) gd in Mar beating Brooklyn Brownie (10-7) by 5l, 9 ran.
Bubble Boy (IRE) 14-1 (11-0) Mid-division, behind when not fluent 12th, 8th of 12, 30l behind Itsmyboy (11-6) at Bangor 3m hcp chs 0-135 (3) gd in Aug.
Keenan's Future (IRE) 7-1 (11-11) Held up, headway 12th, ridden to chase leaders after 3 out, stayed on same pace from next, 4th of 13, 8l behind Baodai (10-11) at Bangor 3m hcp chs 0-125 (3) gd.
