held up, steady headway from 11th, tracked winner from 5 out, hit 3 out, soon ridden and no impression
made all, ran on well
tracked leader until reminders and lost place 10th, lost touch when pulled up before 4 out
tracked leaders, 2nd 9th until after 13th, ridden 4 out, weakened 2 out
held up, tracked winner after 13th until 5 out, ridden next, soon weakened
in touch, driven and lost place 3rd, jumped right from 9th, soon lost touch and pulled up before 5 out
NATAL is favoured at the weights to land this claiming chase with both Andrew Nick and Cousin Nicky worth noting. The selection is now rated 145 and has struggled all season to recapture his best. At his peak he was racing off a mark of 160 but those days look well behind him now. He is however only eight years old and now dropped into this company for the first time he ought to take this opportunity to get back into the winners enclosure. Andrew Nick won a similar contest up at Ayr last time out and prior to that he had been running well off his current mark of 122. He does come into the race in good form which is the opposite to the selection but he will have to improve once again if he is to cause an upset. Cousin Nicky won a claiming chase at Taunton last time out and comes from a yard in good form at present. He looks weighted to his best in handicaps and is put into this race with a realistic weight so he has a decent chance of being in the shake up once again. However for the winner we return top Natal.
Natal (FR) 100-1 (11-10) Held up in rear, struggling from 10th, tailed off from 3 out, pulled up before last, in a race won by Voy Por Ustedes (11-10) at Aintree 2m 4f Grade 1 chs (1) gd, 10 ran.
Cousin Nicky 11-10fav (11-10) Made all, hit 3 out, clear next, stayed on, won at Taunton 2m 7f clm chs (3) sft in Mar beating Young Dancer (10-11) by 17l, 5 ran.
Andrew Nick (IRE) 15-8 (11-5) In touch, went 2nd 10th, led 5 out, kept on well from next, won at Ayr 3m 1f clm chs (3) gd beating Bagan (11-1) by 1 1/4l, 6 ran.
Turbulance (IRE) 25-1 (11-3) Towards rear, ridden and hit 6th, weakened 7th, pulled up before 2 out, in a race won by Vodka Brook (11-4) at Wincanton 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-120 (3) sft in Jan, 19 ran.
Ben Ryan (IRE) 33-1 (10-11) Mid-division, raced keenly, hampered on bend after 8th, weakened after next, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out, in a race won by Cross Kennon (10-8) at Southwell 3m 2f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gd, 13 ran.
Definitely It 16-1 (10-13) Towards rear until fell 4 out, in a race won by Gerrard (11-3) at Towcester 3m hcp chs 0-85 (5) gd in Mar, 16 ran.
Rash Moment (FR) 6-1 (10-13) Held up in rear, pushed along 11th, some headway and just about in touch from 4 out, soon no impression, 5th of 8, 22l behind Even Flo (10-4) at Uttoxeter 2m 5f hcp chs 0-115 (4) gd in Mar.
Arceye 9-1 (10-8) In touch, reminders after 2nd, ridden 10th, beaten before 3 out, plugged on, 5th of 15, 14l behind Deep Pockets (10-12) at Towcester 3m hcp chs 0-100 (4) gd.
