close up, mid-division when hampered 10th, fell 12th (Canal Turn)
towards rear, mistake 1st, tailed off when pulled up before 13th
chased leaders, led 6th, headed 8th, disputing 2nd when fell 10th (Bechers)
in touch until behind from 10th (Bechers)
with leaders, went 2nd 4 out, ridden and weakened after next
always behind, tailed off from 9th
in touch, fell 10th (Bechers)
chased leaders, in touch when fell 10th (Bechers)
prominent, pecked 2nd, led 8th, ridden clear approaching 2 out
towards rear, behind when brought down 10th (Bechers)
prominent, mistake 11th, went 2nd 3 out, soon ridden, weakened last
prominent to 4th, soon behind, tailed off and pulled up
chased leaders, in touch when unseated rider 12th (Canal Turn)
led to 2nd, remain close up, led again 4th, headed 6th, chasing leaders when pecked 10th, weakened approaching 3 out
mid-division, hampered 10th, soon behind
always towards rear
towards rear, jumped slow and left throughout, tailed off when pulled up before 8th
always behind, unseated 8th
jumped right throughout, always behind, tailed off from 9th
chased leaders, blundered 15th, weakened approaching 3 out
mid-division, steady headway 11th, ridden approaching 3 out, went 2nd approaching last, kept on, no chance with winner
mid-division, brought down 10th (Bechers)
chased leaders, led 2nd to 4th, in touch, hit 11th, hampered next, outpaced 5 out, kept on from 2 out, no impression
mid-division, behind when slightly hampered 10th, never dangerous
There are plenty in with chances in the Fox Hunters' Chase, but we will side with Silence Reigns over Gun'N Roses, Sikander A Azam, Irbee and, possibly, The Butterwick Kid. The Paul Nicholls-trained 10-year-old is a useful recruit to the hunter chase ranks and, after falling at the last when set to score at Fontwell in March, quickly made amends in first-time blinkers at Newbury five days later. The blinkers are retained today and, with a good rider booked, he can go well. Gun'N Roses has also attained a good rating over fences and judged on the way he romped home at Haydock on February 14, he can go well under the course chairman's son, Tom Greenall. Sikander A Azam also looks primed to run a good race following his Ascot success, while Irbee remains pretty consistent and ran well when fourth in this race last year. Turning to the others. Torduff Express won this race in 2002 but looks held by Gun'N Roses based on their Haydock runs in February, and Cape Stormer, Forest Gunner, Itsmyturnnow and The Butterwick Kid have showed enough recently to suggest they will give supporters a run for their money. This race is, once again, set to provide a huge crowd with a marvellous spectacle over the National fences and, hopefully, fill their pockets by virtue of a very good run from Silence Reigns.
