in touch, mistake 9th, 6th when fell 10th
held up in rear, steady headway from 16th, chased leaders approaching 2 out, chased winner bypassing last, kept on under pressure
in touch, ridden 17th, soon struggling
pressed leader, jumped left 17th, weakening when mistake 3 out, tailed off
mistake 1st, never going well in rear, hampered 10th, blundered next, driven 13th, tailed off when pulled up before 15th
held up, hampered and unseated rider 10th
chased leader, pecked 14th, ridden approaching 3 out, soon weakened
behind, moderate effort 15th, weakened after next, pulled up and dismounted flat, lame
chased leading quartet, mistake 3rd, headway to chase leaders 13th, went 2nd after 3 out, led 2 out, driven and held on well on long run-in
made most, hit 7th, 11th and 14th, headed 2 out, chased winner until no extra bypassing last
towards rear, some headway into mid-division 11th, soon ridden and weakened, tailed off when pulled up before 16th
towards rear, stayed on under pressure from 3 out, never reached leaders
chased leaders, weakened 16th, not much room when mistake 3 out
The veterans' chases have proved to be one of the season's better innovations and this contest sees another strong field go to post. Native Coral is our idea of the winner but it would be no surprise to see Model Son in the firing line. The selection is a different proposition to the majority here given that he has had just eleven career starts and would appear to have his best days ahead of him. He has won his last two starts in good style and an 8lb rise for his Stratford success may not be enough to anchor him now that his problems have been sorted out. Model Son hasn't won the races that his talent deserves but that's in no small part due to his inability to safely negotiate the obstacles. Paddy Brennan has arguably been the jockey of the season and his presence in the saddle means that Model Son may be worth another chance. Briery Fox, Tango Royal should get into the shake-up but the selection appeals as a better handicapped horse; Out The Black may not be on too bad a mark but has a little to prove at present and Native Coral is readily preferred.
El Vaquero (IRE) 10-1 (11-6) Tracked leaders, mistake 9th, weakened approaching 3 out, 7th of 8, 19l behind Master Minded (11-7) at Sandown 2m hcp chs (2) gs in Jan.
Briery Fox (IRE) 7-1 (10-11) Held up, mistake 5 out, headway approaching 3 out, stayed on flat, 2nd of 13, 2l behind Tango Royal (10-3) at Newbury 3m 2f hcp chs 0-145 (2) gs in Mar.
Tango Royal (FR) 16-1 (10-3) Mid-division, headway 15th, challenged from 2 out, led last, stayed on well under pressure flat, won at Newbury 3m 2f hcp chs 0-145 (2) gs in Mar beating Briery Fox (10-11) by 2l, 13 ran.
The Bandit (IRE) 28-1 (11-3) Prominent, led 3rd to approaching 4th, weakened 6th, 5th of 9, 38l behind Or Bleu (11-8) at Exeter 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-125 (3) gs in Mar.
Rakalackey 8-1 (11-5) Held up towards rear, headway 10th, effort 4 out, kept on one pace from next, 3rd of 16, 5l behind Naunton Brook (11-7) at Carlisle 3m 2f hcp chs 0-135 (3) gd in Nov.
Kelrev (FR) 28-1 (10-7) Mid-division when mistake 2nd, weakened 9th, 10th of 22, 38l behind Mister McGoldrick (11-7) at Cheltenham 2m 4f hcp chs Grd 3 (1) gs in Mar.
Cool Roxy 33-1 (11-5) Led, ridden and headed 7th, weakened 4 out, 6th of 15, 28l behind Wind Instrument (10-9) at Uttoxeter 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-140 (2) gd in Mar.
Limited Edition (IRE) 18-1 (10-7) Tracked leaders, ridden when mistake 3 out, soon beaten, 14th of 22, well behind Mister McGoldrick (11-7) at Cheltenham 2m 4f hcp chs Grd 3 (1) gs in Mar.
Out The Black (IRE) 5-1 (11-12) Tracking leaders when hampered and unseated rider at the 2nd in race won by Bolachoir (11-7) at Sandown 3m amt chs (3) gd in Mar, 11 ran.
Snoopy Loopy (IRE) 11-2 (10-13) Led, headed before 2nd, blundered badly 11th and lost place, rallied from 3 out, chased winner 2 out, stayed on well flat, 2nd of 6, 3/4l behind Silver Sedge (11-1) at Wetherby 3m 1f hcp chs 0-135 (3) gf in Mar.
Model Son (IRE) 16-1 (10-0) Held up mid-division, headway from 17th, soon ridden, weakened after 4 out, 4th of 16, 27l behind Himalayan Trail (9-9) at Uttoxeter 4m 1f lst hcp chs (1) gs in Mar.
Native Coral (IRE) 3-1fav (11-5) Held up in rear, headway after 10th, challenged 2 out, soon led, driven and stayed on well flat, won at Stratford 2m 7f hcp chs 0-120 (3) gs in Mar beating Bermuda Pointe (10-3) by 3 1/2l, 11 ran.
Iris Royal (FR) 33-1 (10-4) Prominent, lost place 25th, struggling when mistake next, well behind when pulled up at the 27th in race won by Wonderkid (10-0) at Cheltenham 3m 7f crs cty hcp chs (2) gd in Dec, 16 ran.
