held up in touch, 1 length down and going well when fell 15th
led until jumped slowly and headed 5th, hit 13th, weakened from next, left a poor 2nd 15th, soon ridden went poor 2nd 3 out, no impression
held up in touch, lost touch and struggling from 5th, left a poor 3rd 15th, blundered next, ridden and went poor 2nd 3 out, no impression
tracked leader until led 5th, left 25 lengths clear 15th, unchallenged
Disappointingly just the four runners line up for this novices' chase and it looks little more than a match between COQ HARDI and The Shy Man with preference for the former. Peter Bowen's gelding has shown improved form over fences of late with wins at Wincanton and Uttoxeter in his last two starts and although he has a double penalty to carry for those successes and has to give a stone away to his rivals, he is hard to oppose. The Shy Man has shown some promise over fences but he has yet to reproduce hurdles form over the larger obstacles and George Moore's gelding may have to settle for the runner-up spot. Glacial Rambler makes no appeal having been pulled up in his last three starts, while Sue Bradburne's Stainley has shown little worthwhile form in two starts over fences and looks best watched in a race where Coq Hardi is hard to oppose.
Coq Hardi (FR) 11-10fav (11-5) Tracked leaders, led approaching 3 out, clear from next, won at Uttoxeter 2m 6f nov stks (4) gd beating Postmaster (10-12) by 17l, 6 ran.
Glacial Rambler (IRE) 22-1 (10-0) Mistakes in rear, behind when pulled up before 12th, in a race won by Sea Cadet (11-12) at Hexham 3m 1f hcp chs 0-95 (5) gd, 16 ran.
Stainley (IRE) 20-1 (11-2) Mid division, blundered 5th, weakened 10th, tailed off and pulled up before 4 out, in a race won by Gershwinner (11-7) at Perth 3m 5yo nov hcp (4) gs, 13 ran.
The Shy Man (IRE) 9-4fav (10-13) In touch, ridden and outpaced after 4 out, 5th and beaten when hit 2 out, 7th of 8, 30l behind Solway Sunset (10-3) at Ayr 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-125 (3) gd in Apr.
