chased leaders, reminder 7th, went 2nd 2 out, ridden when not fluent last, stayed on well to lead towards finish
chased leaders, not fluent 8th, weakened 11th, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out
held up, headway 8th, went 2nd 3 out to 2 out, weakened flat
led 2nd, mistake 7th, driven flat, headed towards finish
led 2nd, chased leaders to 3 out, weakened 2 out
held up, took keen hold, headway 3rd, jumped right 9th, soon lost touch, tailed off
in rear, hit 4th, soon behind tailed off when pulled up before 2 out
With Ferdy Murphy's stable beginning to hit form there is bound to be plenty of support for Riguez Dancer, who showed improved form on the flat after some encouraging runs over hurdles last term, and he has to be respected but it is hard to get away from KNOCKAVILLA, who gets the vote with April San rated the best of the rest. The selection, a point-to-point winner in Ireland, showed a respectable level of form over hurdles last term but is likely to do better over fences and he made a pleasing debut over the larger obstacles when chasing home Noble Alan at Hexham last month. The Thirsty Bricky has yet to trouble the judge and looks best watched with a bigger threat likely to come from Sue Smith's Karmadice, a winner over hurdles, who will hopefully go better than on his first start over fences here in June. Stuart Crawford's Bear Witness was a dual winner in Irish points and has to be respected on his debut in the UK but he has disappointed in a couple of hunter chases. April San looks the second best of Ferdy Murphy's two runners and is surely better than when pulled up on his reappearance at Market Rasen earlier this month. Knockavilla has an obvious chance in this company though and is hard to oppose.
April San 12-1 (10-9) Held up in rear, outpaced 4 out, soon weakened, pulled up before next, in a race won by Youngstown (10-13) at Market Rasen 3m 1f nov hcp chs 0-130 (3) hvy, 5 ran.
Bear Witness (IRE) 9-2fav (11-9) Mid-division, 9th 3 out, ridden and no impression before straight, weakened, 9th of 13, well behind Paddy Pub (11-2) at Tipperary 2m 7f hnt chs hvy in Apr.
Karmadice 20-1 (10-12) Tracked leader, left in lead 4th, headed 10th, weakened from next, 7th of 10, 46l behind Schelm (10-12) at Sedgefield 2m nov stks (4) gf in Jun.
Knockavilla (IRE) 11-4 (11-3) Led to 3rd, tracked leader, led again 3 out, held last, driven and kept on same pace last, no chance with winner, 2nd of 7, 8l behind Noble Alan (11-3) at Hexham 2m beg chs (5) gd in Oct.
Riguez Dancer 4-1fav (11-9) Tracked leaders, effort 3 out, kept on same pace from next, 4th of 11, 11l behind Pagan Starprincess (11-5) at Newcastle 2m hcp hdl 0-135 (3) sft in Dec.
The Green Hat (IRE) 100-1 (10-5) In rear, lost touch 11th, tailed off when pulled up before 4 out, in a race won by The Hollinwell (10-12) at Hexham 3m 1f nov stks (3) gs, 7 ran.
The Thirsty Bricky (IRE) 33-1 (11-12) Towards rear, no danger and kept on without threatening from 5 out, 5th of 17, well behind Major Finnegan (11-12) at Punchestown 2m beg chs sft in Oct.
Chief Lady Olwyn 66-1 (10-5) Held up towards rear, not fluent 8th, blundered 11th, not recovered and pulled up before 12th, in a race won by King Troy (11-5) at Bangor 2m 4f nov stks (4) gs in May, 7 ran.
