chased leaders, jumped left and pushed along briefly 4th, slow and lost place 8th, well beaten from 3 out
pressed winner, led 2nd, soon headed, led 3rd, not fluent 5th, headed next, close up when fell 3 out
held up in 5th, closed 8th, switched right and went 2nd final bend, no impression on winner final 150 yards, lost 2nd towards finish
led until slow 2nd, soon led again, headed 3rd, led 6th, headed 2 out, led after last, clear 100 yards out, pricking ears towards finish
led into start, always well behind
chased leaders, challenged 4 out, lost 2nd final bend, kept on and went 2nd again towards finish, no impression on winner
Nicky Henderson is in tremendous form with a strike rate of over 50 per cent in the last fortnight and it's surely significant he makes a rare foray to the Lakes for the chasing debut of Fugitives Drift. He may prove good enough but THATSY is intriguing. Well regarded in his early days with Gordon Elliott. he was only just out of the places in the County Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival last year and has shown some ability over fences without scoring. It will be fascinating to see how he goes for his new yard and is a risk worth taking. The rest make chasing debuts with Beach Break making most appeal on hurdling form and now sporting first-time cheekpieces.
Beach Break 11-1 (11-11) Chased leader, restrained to lead chasing group behind clear leader 3rd, ridden on bend before 3 out, soon weakened, last of 5, 30 1/2l behind Swaffham Bulbeck (11-12) at Newcastle 2m hcp (3) gd in Apr.
Black Kraken 14-1 (8-5) Slow into stride in rear, never on terms, 9th of 12, 37 1/4l behind Let Me Be (9-9) at Catterick 2m hcp (6) sft in May.
Check My Pulse (IRE) 18-1 (11-12) Prominent and tracked leader, ridden and weakened after 3 out, 7th of 10, dist behind Burrows Diamond (11-6) at Sedgefield 2m 1f hcp (4) gd in Apr.
Fugitives Drift (IRE) 9-1 (11-9) Led, headed 3rd, pushed in 3rd after 3 out, lost ground on front pair before ridden after 2 out, kept on one pace, 3rd of 6, 21 1/2l behind Kakamora (10-13) at Perth 2m 4f hcp (3) gd in Apr.
Gennady (IRE) 6-1 (11-13) In touch in rear, headway approaching last, ridden to challenge winner flat, not quicken close home, 2nd of 8, hd behind Present From Dubai (11-10) at Wetherby 2m hcp (4) sft in Mar.
Thatsy (FR) 7-2 (11-4) Towards rear, not fluent 1st, closer in 4th when slightly hampered 4 out, ridden from next and no impression in 2nd from last, kept on same pace run-in, 2nd of 7, 5 1/2l behind Benruben (11-11) at Down Royal 2m hcp Yielding - Soft in May.
