led 2nd, jumped right throughout, blundered and unseated rider 13th
tracked leaders, left in lead 13th, strongly challenged from 3 out, kept on well under pressure
keen hold, tracked leaders, joined winner 13th, every chance 2 out, ran on
led until 2nd, remained prominent, mistake 9th and 12th, weakened before 3 out
The usual potential for trappyness, if that's a word, in this four runner affair and we will side with Sparkling Taff to take it from Carndale. With Polar Gale a doubtful stayer over this trip and Aston requiring genuine fast ground to be seen to best effect, plus Brian Storey's yard being woefully out of form, process of elimination leads up to Sparkling Taff. Carndale would have a decent chance if we could trust him to run to his true ability, but Sparkling Taff comes from Sue Smith's stable, whose runners are in better form, and so despite the fact that he only just sees out this trip, he can probably do enough to win.
Carndale (IRE) 16-1 (11-12) Tracked winner, lost place 4 out, weakened before next, 4th of 10, 30l behind Clemax (11-8) at Catterick 3m 1f hcp chs 0-110 (4) gd.
Sparkling Taff 5-1 (11-8) Tracked leaders, headway to lead after 4 out, headed 2 out, weakened last, 3rd of 10, 14l behind Clemax (11-8) at Catterick 3m 1f hcp chs 0-110 (4) gd.
Polar Gale (IRE) 7-2fav (10-11) Tracked leaders, mistakes 5th and 9th, outpaced 11th, headway 4 out, every chance when blundered and unseated rider at the last in race won by Clemax (11-8) at Catterick 3m 1f hcp chs 0-110 (4) gd, 10 ran.
Aston (USA) 8-1 (10-0) Jumped slowly 1st, soon behind, reminders 5th, soon tailed off, last of 5, well behind King Harald (11-6) at Fakenham 2m 5f hcp chs 0-130 (3) gs.
