chased leader, fell 5th
made all, hit 1st, drew clear from 4 out, hit 2 out, unchallenged
held up, blundered badly 2nd, headway 5th, mistake 7th, no impression on winner from 4 out, mistake and lost 2nd 3 out, weakening when jumped left next
held up, not fluent 1st, mistake next, headway 5th, ridden after 9th, mistake 4 out, went 2nd 3 out, no chance with winner
HARRY TRICKER ultimately had little to beat on his chase debut but he did the job well enough despite idling in front and could turn out to be a cut above this opposition. He was a talented juvenile hurdler who bounced back from a spell in the doldrums to show progressive form last season and he looks to have a future at this game if he can brush up on his jumping. National Trust merits respect on debut for a new yard but he has not been easy to train and it remains to be seen how much ability he retains; the market may well point us in the right direction. The other four runners are not exactly mugs but they may have to rely on mistakes from the two principal contenders if they're to lift this prize.
Blacktoft (USA) 9-4fav (11-12) Led, ridden and headed flat, eased when beaten towards finish, 2nd of 7, 6l behind Holoko Heights (11-5) at Worcester 2m nov chs (4) gd in Sep.
Mam Ratagan 9-2 (11-3) Soon led, not fluent 4th, headed approaching last, no chance with winner, 2nd of 6, 4l behind Cootehill (11-6) at Stratford 2m 4f nov chs (4) gf in Sep.
National Trust 7-1 (11-0) In touch, not fluent and lost place 3rd, effort 6th, weakened 3 out, 8th of 14, 30l behind Humbel Ben (10-5) at Newton Abbot 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-135 (3) gd in Jun.
Quedillac (FR) 12-1 (11-4) Led, not fluent 1st, mistake 4th, not fluent and headed 4th, went 2nd 4 out until approaching 3 out, held in 3rd after, one pace, 3rd of 6, 9l behind Harry Tricker (11-4) at Fontwell 2m 2f beg chs (4) gd in Sep.
Harry Tricker 9-4 (11-4) Held up off the pace, closed after 7th, went 2nd when hit 3 out, led before next, clear last, ridden out, won at Fontwell 2m 2f beg chs (4) gd in Sep beating Pagan Sword (10-11) by 4 1/2l, 6 ran.
Darksideofthemoon (IRE) 11-2 (11-5) Held up mid-division, good headway 9th, with leader next, ridden after last, weakened when lost 3rd flat, 4th of 8, 18l behind Shopfrontspecialst (11-5) at Sedgefield 2m 4f beg chs (4) gd in Sep.
