chased leaders, mistake 10th, chased easy winner 3 out, no impression and lost 2nd near finish
chased leader, driven before 9th, 7th and weakening when unseated rider 10th
held up in touch, mistake 6th and next, headway to chase leading pair 10th, weakened 3 out
not jumped well, chased leaders, blundered 4th and 6th, lost place before 9th, blundered next, well beaten when fell last
behiond, driven and struggling 9th, tailed off when fell 3 out
never going well in rear, stayed on after 3 out, 3rd when hit next, kept on flat to take modest 2nd near finish
led to 4th, pressed leader, led 8th to 10th, weakened 3 out
tracked leaders, led 4th to 8th, led 10th, drew well clear from 3 out, unchallenged
Fantastic Arts gets the vote to win this maiden chase with Missyl and Hidden Weapon rating the main dangers. The selection was a fair sort over hurdles and although he has had his jumping problems of late he showed more last time when sixth behind Lubinas. This looks easier and in a very poor race he is taken to score. Missyl rates the main danger on his best form but he was pulled up for no apparent reason last time out so he can not be put forward with any confidence. Hidden Weapon would be a danger to all on his form of three years ago but he has only had two runs in the last two seasons and has been pulled up on both occasions so he obviously has problems. Of the remainder Saddlers Cloth would have won last time but for falling at the last when clear and if he puts in a fluent round of jumping he will not be far away but that is a big if and with this in mind fore the winner we return to Fantastic Arts.
Ballyrainey (IRE) 33-1 (11-2) Prominent, disputed 2nd from 3 out, weakened 2 out pulled up 2 out in race won by The Outlier (11-2) at Folkestone 2m 5f mdn chs (4) gs in Jan, 7 ran.
Desertmore Chief (IRE) 25-1 (10-13) Chased winner, weakened after 3 out, 9th of 15, 46l behind Losing Grip (10-9) at Market Rasen 2m 1f sll hcp hdl 0-95 (5) sft.
Fantastic Arts (FR) 14-1 (10-13) Held up, mistake 7th, never dangerous, 6th of 14, 31l behind Lubinas (11-3) at Hereford 2m 3f nov hcp chs 0-110 (4) gd.
Hidden Weapon 16-1 (10-9) Held up, headway 5th, weakened approaching 8th, tailed off and pulled up 2 out in race won by Love Of Classics (11-2) at Fontwell 2m 6f mdn hdl (4) sft, 9 ran.
Koyaanisqatsi 10-1 (10-6) Behind, ridden and struggling 4th, tailed off when pulled up 4 out in race won by Cristophe (10-7) at Plumpton 2m 5f cnd sll hcp hdl (G) gs in Apr '04, 11 ran.
Missyl (FR) 13-2 (11-0) In touch until weakened 8th, tailed off when pulled up 4 out in race won by Cousin Nicky (10-8) at Exeter 2m 3f nov chs (4) hvy in Mar, 8 ran.
The Hardy Boy 66-1 (11-2) Led, headed 4th, led again after 9th, hit 13th, soon headed and weakened, 6th of 9, well behind Ryders Storm (11-2) at Worcester 2m 7f beg chs (4) gd.
Saddlers Cloth (IRE) 11-4 (10-10) Led, clear 4 out until fell at the last in race won by Fullards (11-3) at Fakenham 3m beg chs (4) gd in Mar, 5 ran.
