tracked leaders, challenged 4 out, led between last 2, ridden and edged right flat, kept on
led, driven and headed between last 2, one pace flat
mistakes, close up on outside, outpaced 12th, soon lost touch, tailed off
tracked leader, challenged when hit 4 out, outpaced 2 out, soon ridden, kept on from last
Disappointingly just the four runners line up for this novices' chase but there is some quality among the quartet and the vote goes to MOUNT SANDEL, who gets the verdict ahead of Belon Gale and Le Beau Bai. Richard Lee's gelding ran in the National Hunt Chase at the festival on Wednesday but was pulled up before three out behind Tricky Trickster and he may find this race coming too soon. Don McCain's Tastes Like More has a bit to find on official BHA ratings but the yard's runners are in good form so he cannot be completely ruled out following a decent effort at Towcester last time. Howard Johnson's Belon Gale is relatively unexposed after just five outings and remains open to plenty of improvement. A good winner at Sedgefield prior to falling at Newcastle last month, he has to be respected but a better bet looks to be Mount Sandel. Oliver Sherwood's gelding comes here on the back of comfortable successes at Fontwell in each of his last two starts and a reproduction of form shown on either occasion may well suffice here.
Le Beau Bai (FR) 20-1 (11-11) Mid-division, hampered on bend approaching 6th, behind 9th, mistakes 12th and 13th, tailed off when pulled up in race won by Tricky Trickster (11-11) at Cheltenham 4m amt chs (2) gs, 19 ran.
Mount Sandel (IRE) 11-1 (11-3) Jumped right, made virtually all, ridden and stayed on strongly from 2 out, won at Fontwell 2m 6f nov chs (2) gd in Feb beating Sound Accord (11-3) by 10l, 3 ran.
Belon Gale (IRE) 10-3 (11-3) Led until fell at the 8th in race won by Skippers Brig (11-6) at Newcastle 3m nov chs (2) hvy in Feb, 4 ran.
Tastes Like More (IRE) 4-6fav (11-0) With leader, led 4th to 5th, led 6th to 7th, not fluent 10th, led 4 out, drew clear from 2 out, won at Towcester 2m 6f mrs beg chs (4) hvy in Feb beating Miss Fleur (10-11) by 17l, 4 ran.
