bumped 1st, tracked leading trio, went 3rd 7th, tracked leader 9th, challenged 13th, led going strongly approaching 3 out, about 1 length ahead and looked likely winner when crumpled on landing and fell 3 out
jumped stickily early stages, held up last, headway 12th, chased leading pair after 13th, driven before 3 out, no impression when left modest 2nd 3 out
led, not fluent 5th, headed next, chased leader until 9th, stayed in 3rd until outpaced in 4th after 13th
tracked leader until 3rd, went 2nd next until 9th, weakened 13th, left poor 3rd 3 out
keen hold early, bumped 1st, chased leader 3rd, led 6th, mistake 13th, ridden and headed and looked beaten when left in 6 lengths lead 3 out
WISHFULL THINKING's chase debut didn't exactly go according to plan but it's well worth forgiving him that run and backing him to make the most of the weight that he receives from Robinson Collonges. Phillip Hobbs has started the season with a bang and his smart novice hurdler is expected to make up into a top class novice chaser. Robinson Collonges only had one start for this yard last season after arriving from France but made the perfect start to this term when comfortably winning a modest novice chase at Bangor. This is more exacting but the style of his success suggests that he could go to the top. Tara Royal and Cootehill are admirable sorts but may have to rely on mistakes from their principal rivals in order to lift this trophy.
Robinson Collonges (FR) 3-1 (11-2) Chased leaders, went 2nd after 9th, led before 4 out, clear from 2 out, easily, won at Bangor 2m 4f nov chs (3) gd in Oct beating Pouvoir (11-8) by 20l, 7 ran.
Tara Royal 11-4fav (11-8) Held up towards rear and keen, in touch in 5th after 3rd, went 2nd at 6th, led approaching 4 out, jumped left next, headed flat, no exstra, 2nd of 8, 2l behind Divers (11-2) at Carlisle 2m nov chs (3) gd in Oct.
Cootehill (IRE) 11-4 (11-12) Chased leading pair, outpaced when mistake 4 out, kept on same pace from next, no chance with front pair, 3rd of 6, 28l behind Cockney Trucker (11-8) at Huntingdon 2m nov chs (3) gd in Oct.
Intac (IRE) 5-1 (11-6) Close up, chased clear leader approaching 6 out, until weakened from next, 6th of 8, well behind Digger Gets Lucky (10-11) at Chepstow 2m 3f nov hcp chs 0-115 (4) sft in Oct.
Wishfull Thinking 4-7fav (11-2) Tracked leader until fell 1st, in a race won by Cool Friend (10-9) at Aintree 2m 4f nov chs (3) gs in Oct, 4 ran.
