led, not fluent 5th or 7th, headed after 3 out, no chance with winner from next
held up in touch in rear, mistake 2nd, not fluent 3rd, mistake next, not fluent 7th, headway before 8th, went 2nd when stumbled 4 out, led after 3 out, clear 2 out, stayed on well
held up in touch in rear, hit 7th, headway on outside when carried right 7th, pressed for 2nd briefly before 2 out, no chance with winner, 3rd and weakening when mistake last
held up behind leaders, jumped right 7th, in touch when fell heavily 4 out
tracked leaders, went 2nd 2nd, pushed along approaching 7th, losing place when very slow 8th, soon well behind and pulled up
steadied start, detached in last, well behind 5th, jumped right and mistake 7th, badly tailed off before 4 out, pulled up after
took keen hold, tracked leader until 2nd, challenged after 8th, weakened before 2 out, pulled up before last
THAT'S RHYTHM may be of pensionable age but Sally Duckett's 13-year-old has much the best form of these under Rules. He had a host of useful hunter chasers behind when runner-up to Cheltenham Foxhunter Chase winner Salsify at Stratford last June and a recent fall between the flags was uncharacteristic. Rocklandslad has a good strike rate in point-to-points but a woeful record under Rules while Noble Ben, Ballyeightra Cross and Lincoln's Inn have also been off the track for a considerable length of time. Marky Bob won twice at Fakenham last season but ran a shocker on his reappearance at the Cambridge University Hunt.
Marky Bob (IRE) 4-5 (12-7) Led til hdd aft 12; wknd 3 out, last of 4, 28l behind Ocean du Moulin (12-7) at Cambridge University United Hunt 3m ptp gd in Nov.
That's Rhythm (FR) 8-13 (12-5) Prsd wnr 13 til fell 4 out, in a race won by Sorted (12-5) at Dunston Harriers 3m ptp gd in Jan, 5 ran.
Noble Ben (IRE) 3-1fav (11-3) Tracked leaders, smooth headway to go 2nd 3 out, led next, ridden and stayed on flat, won at Cheltenham 2m hts chs (5) gf in May '11 beating Innocent Rebel (11-3) by 4l, 13 ran.
Ballyeightra Cross (IRE) 4-6 (12-5) Releg 3rd 14; prsd wnr 3 out; no ex flat, 2nd of 4, 3/4l behind Divine Intavention (12-5) at Ampton 3m ptp gf in Jan '12.
Lincoln's Inn (IRE) 14-1 (11-7) Held up towards rear, headway approaching 7th, ridden next, weakened 9th, tailed off, 9th of 12, well behind Ricardo's Chance (11-4) at Worcester 3m hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gd in Jun '08.
Living The Dream 50-1 (12-0) Hdwy 11; wknd 15; to, 8th of 15, well behind Certain Flight (12-6) at Larkhill Racing Club 3m ptp gd in Jan.
Rocklandslad (IRE) 1-2 (11-0) (cp) held up; led 15; drvn out, won at North Carlton 3m ptp in Feb '12 beating Pass The Parsel (11-0) by 1/2l, 4 ran.