led until ridden and headed 3 out, weakened before next
held up in touch, chased leader after 3 out, ridden and every chance last, stayed on
held up, good headway approaching 2 out, every chance last, soon led, ran on
mid-division, pecked on landing and unseated rider after 8th
held up, headway 14th, chased leader 4 out, led next, challenged from 2 out, headed flat, no extra
close up, ridden 15th, weakened 3 out
blundered 1st, behind, ridden 9th, some headway 11th, behind from 13th, tailed off and walked over line
close up, mistake 12th, weakened 3 out
chased leader, hit 10th, ridden 14th, weakened 4 out
Formerly smart handicap chasers Cornish Rebel and Green Belt Flyer are sure to have their supporters but our vote goes the way of Coolefind. The selection has three victories in Hunter Chases to his name but arguably surpassed those efforts in defeat on his latest start. He hasn't been out since finishing third in the Horse and Hound Cup but should be capable of doing himself justice on his reappearance. Cornish Rebel is undoubtedly talented but he developed his own ideas about the game and it remains to be seen how much enthusiasm he retains. If the change of routine and scenery has reawakened his senses then he could prove hard to beat. Green Belt Flyer proved more miss than hit last season and it's hard to predict which horse we will see this afternoon. He's in the right hands and has plenty of ability if he can be persuaded to deliver. The other runner of interest is the former Jonjo O'Neill inmate Wild Is The Wind but he has something to find on the book and this looks to be a tough enough return to action. An interesting heat in which Coolefind gets the nod.
Coolefind (IRE) 18-1 (12-0) Held up, headway 14th, ridden and slightly hampered 16th, jumped right 3 out, plugged on, 3rd of 13, 8l behind Joe Blake (12-0) at Stratford 3m 4f hts chs (2) gd in May.
Cornish Rebel (IRE) 33-1 (11-8) Behind, hit 13th, weakened next and pulled up in race won by Hot Weld (9-9) at Ayr 4m hcp chs Grd 3 (1) gf in Apr, 23 ran.
Green Belt Flyer (IRE) 12-1 (11-3) Behind, effort 14th, weakened 5 out, behind when pulled up 4 out in race won by Reveillez (11-8) at Aintree 3m 1f hcp chs (2) gd in Apr, 18 ran.
Wild Is The Wind (FR) 10-3 (11-6) Held up, headway 10th, ridden 12th, outpaced 4 out, stayed on well from 3 out, went 2nd 2 out, led last, driven out, won at N Abbot 2m 5f nov chs (3) gf in Apr beating Which Pocket (11-1) by 6l, 4 ran.
Abbey Days (IRE) 7-4 (11-0) In tch; hdwy 11; lft 2nd 3 out; btn when unseated rider in race won by Christy Beamish (11-0) at Cottenham 3m ptp gd in Dec, 12 ran.
Hobbycyr (FR) 9-1 (10-9) Led to 5th, ridden and weakened 10th, 7th of 14, 28l behind Petolinski (10-0) at Towcester 3m hcp chs 0-100 (4) gs in May '06.
Iochtaran (IRE) 4-1 (12-0) Sn prom; wknd qckly 4 out; pulled up in race won by Rash Move (12-0) at Black Forest Ldg 3m ptp gd in Dec, 10 ran.
Little Rocker (IRE) 20-1 (10-8) Prominent to 8th, soon lost place, 10th of 16, 41l behind Mckelvey (11-5) at Bangor 3m hcp hdl 0-140 (2) gd in Mar.
Home By Midnight 14-1 (11-7) Hdwy 11; outpcd 3 out, 5th of 14, 8l behind Gaye Trigger (12-0) at Barbury Castle 3m ptp gd in Jan.
Bay Island (IRE) 6-1 (11-5) Held up, headway 15th, soon ridden, weakened 4 out, last of 7, 31l behind Terramarique (11-7) at Exeter 3m 1f hcp chs 0-115 (4) gf in May.
