mid-division, headway 10th, weakened 12th
always behind
jumped right, chased leaders to 12th, tailed off when pulled up after 14th
mid-division, headway 11th, went 2nd 4 out, ridden approaching 2 out, not quicken flat
always towards rear
led to 5th, stayed prominent, went 2nd 13th to 4 out, weakened next
always towards rear, tailed off when pulled up before 4 out
prominent, led 5th, driven out
jumped badly right, always behind, tailed off when pulled up before 11th
tracked leaders, went 2nd 7th to 13th, ridden after next, soon weakened
Plenty of unexposed types take part in this novice chase with Rose Tea, St. Mathew and Gumley Gale all having their first look at the bigger obstacles in public with the vote going to the last named. Gumley Gale is rated superior to any of his rivals over hurdles and makes his belated debut over fences after a 16lb rise in the weights for his 14-length victory at Exeter last time out. If he were to translate that performance today he will take all the beating. St. Mathew is rated not far behind the selection over hurdles and has been running with credit of late. His run behind Marrell at Worcester last time out has worked out well for the winner has scored again since, and the fact that no one else schools their horses better than Sue Smith gives St. Mathew a great chance of scoring on his debut. Rose Tea enters calculations on his two novice hurdle wins last Autumn. He was outclassed in Listed company at Cheltenham thereafter but could still run well here. The only negative is that he lacks a recent run and on that fact could be best watched today. For the winner we return to Gumley Gale.
