mistake 1st, jumped left, struggled to get on terms
held up last, not fluent 4th, pulled up before 2 out
close-up second throughout, jumped well, second approaching 3 out, soon ridden 2 out, lost second last, stayed on
better than mid-division, third approaching 3 out, staying on and third 2 out, went second last, staying on strongly close home
raced mid-division on the outside, ridden before 3 out, soon weakened
made all, jumped slightly left on occasions, six-length lead final circuit, still going well 3 out, jumped left 2 out, jumped last well, comfortably
mid-division, mistake 6th, pulled up before last
just worse than mid-division, ridden and went fourth 2 out, never nearer
Sandy Thomson looks to have a decent crop of novice chasers this season and Elf De Re could be another, though he’s only run once away from Kelso so far and his stable’s runners have been generally needing a run. Bean In Trouble was progressive over hurdles last season and Protektorat has been campaigned at a high level over the smaller obstacles, winning a Listed race at Cheltenham at the start of the year. Notre Pari is preferred to stablemate Bon Calvados but Snookered will need to improve on his last of three at Sedgefield. MALYSTIC was a decent novice hurdler last term and has the potential to be even better over fences so could be the value in an open-looking heat.
Bean In Trouble 9-4fav (11-11) Behind, headway 4 out, driven to challenge on outside next, soon ridden, led after last, kept on under pressure flat, won at Ludlow 2m hcp (3) sft in Feb beating Hijran (11-10) by 2 1/4l, 10 ran.
Bon Calvados (FR) 4-1 (11-10) Raced wide, pulled hard, headway chasing leaders when mistakes 2nd and next, soon pulled way into lead, pushed along and headed before 2 out, weakened between last 2, 3rd of 6, 17l behind Tegerek (11-12) at Huntingdon 2m hcp (4) sft in Mar.
Elf De Re (FR) 11-1 (11-2) Tracked leaders, led narrowly before 2 out, headed between last 2, kept on same pace, ridden and no impression with winner flat, 2nd of 7, 5l behind Clondaw Caitlin (10-9) at Kelso 2m 2f (1) hvy in Feb.
Malystic 11-2 (11-3) Led, jumped left 2 out, hung left before last, headed flat, stayed on, just held, 2nd of 6, hd behind Fred (11-6) at Musselburgh 2m (2) sft in Feb.
Notre Pari (IRE) 4-6fav (11-10) Mistake 2st, tracked leading pair, 2nd before 3 out, upsides last, bumped run-in, soon nudged into lead, snugly, won at Fontwell 2m 3f (4) sft in Feb beating Black Gerry (11-10) by 1/2l, 5 ran.
Protektorat (FR) 12-1 (11-2) Mid-division, headway on outside 2 out, driven to chase leaders turning in, ridden before last, soon beaten, 10th of 25, 12l behind Dame De Compagnie (10-12) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp (1) sft in Mar.
Sayar (IRE) 20-1 (11-0) Always towards rear, mistake 5 out, no impression before 4 out, soon no extra, weakened before 2 out, 15th of 16, dist behind Kilfenora (11-0) at Naas 2m 4f hcp Soft - Heavy in Nov.
Snookered (IRE) 2-1 (11-0) Held up in 3rd, closer 4 out, mistake and outpaced 3 out, mistake next, last of 3, 26l behind Return Ticket (11-0) at Sedgefield 2m (4) gd in Oct.
Rob The Getaway (IRE) 50-1 (11-2) Contested lead, restrained to track leaders before 4th where fell, at Wetherby 2m 3f (4) gs in Oct.
