led until before 1st, chased clear leader, closed 7th, led 4 out, headed 2 out, stayed on same pace flat
lacked conviction in rear, soon behind
led before 1st, went clear until 7th, headed 4 out, soon weakened
chased leading pair, closed 7th, 2nd after 4 out, led 2 out, shaken up to assert flat
in rear pair, closed 7th, closed 3rd 3 out, stayed on same pace from next
Hell's Kitchen was too keen on his chasing debut at Ascot a year ago but still has time on his side. War Sound won a Grade 3 over hurdles but that was in 2015 and Philip Hobbs' eight-year-old has a very long absence to overcome. RIVER WYLDE was third in last season's Supreme Novices' at Cheltenham having won a Grade 2 at Kempton earlier. He should take high rank among this season's novice chasers and can start with a win here. Kimberlite Candy was tailed off at Chepstow last month but Minella For Me has won a point-to-point so should make a chaser, though probably over further.
Hell's Kitchen 3-1 (11-2) Pulled hard and tended to jump left, alternated 3rd and 4th place, outright 3rd at 13th, close enough 2 out, weakened last, 3rd of 4, 9l behind Different Gravey (11-2) at Ascot 2m 3f (3) gs in Nov.
Kimberlite Candy (IRE) 8-1 (11-5) In touch, headway under pressure 11th, weakened before 5 out, 5th of 6, dist behind West Approach (11-5) at Ffos Las 2m 5f (3) sft in Oct.
Minella For Me (IRE) 7-1 (11-4) Held up towards rear, pushed along and well held in 7th when fell 3 out, at Exeter 2m 3f (4) sft in Feb.
River Wylde (IRE) 9-4jfav (11-4) Mid-division, headway after 4 out, 2nd 2 out, soon hung left, slightly bumped rival last, lost 2nd flat, no extra, 5th of 9, 13 1/4l behind Pingshou (11-4) at Aintree 2m (1) gd in Apr.
War Sound 12-1 (11-7) Always behind, 12th of 22, dist behind Agrapart (10-10) at Newbury 2m hcp (1) hvy in Feb.
