led, headed 3rd, led again 8th, ridden and headed 3 out, mistake 2 out, soon weakened
pulled hard, led 3rd to 8th, behind when pulled up 13th
never better than mid-division, pulled up before last
prominent, ridden 3 out, weakened next
always in rear, mistake 5th, pulled up before 9th
chased leaders, 3rd when blundered and unseated rider 12th
always in rear, blundered 2nd, pulled up after 11th
held up, never on terms
prominent, ridden and mistake 10th, weakened 12th, pulled up before 4 out
in touch, ridden 8th, weakened next, pulled up after 11th
mid-division, ridden 8th, never on terms
mid-division, ridden 8th, behind and pulled up 3 out
always in rear, pulled up after 11th
held up, always going well, headway 8th, led 3 out, clear after 2 out, very easy
held up, mistake 5th, kept on but never trouble leaders
mistakes, behind, pulled up before 10th
Sleeping Night, Cantarhino and Upham Lord are three to pay some heed to in the hunter chase, with the vote going to Upham Lord. Trainer Peter Beaumont cut his teeth in the pointing and hunter chase fields and knows what it is to handle a good horse in those spheres. Consequently, Upham Lord, who acquired a fair Rules rating in relation to a number of these, looks to hold a good chance. That said, Paul Nicholls' formerly very useful Sleeping Night, stands out if you apply former Rules ratings and, if you can forgive him his Wincanton mishap, holds a excellent chance. Furthermore, , he is a course and distance winner which is a big plus around here. Cantarhino is a course winner and comes here fit from a pointing run so is another to consider. Mind you, ones that also fall into that bracket are Abbeyknock Boy, Arctic Challenge, Fullopep, Minster York but, for the winner, we return to Upham Lord.
Cantarinho 4-7fav pulled up in race won by An Capall Dubh at Horseheath 3m ptp gd, 9 ran.
Abbeyknock Boy (IRE) 2-1fav won at Dunthrop 3m ptp gf in Jan '04 beating Johnsair by 1/2l, 12 ran.
Arctic Challenge (IRE) 16-1 Chased leaders, led 5 out, ridden after 3 out, headed next, weakened last, 3rd of 6, 13l behind Spring Grove at Warwick 2m 4f hcp chs 0-130 (C) gs in Dec '03.
Fullopep 10-3jt-fav Towards rear, jumped left throughout, headway 3 out, chased leaders next, stayed on flat, 4th of 13, 1 1/2l behind Good Boy at Huntingdon 3m hts chs (H) gf in May '03.
Minster York 20-1 4th of 13, 17l behind Satchmo at Higham 3m ptp gd in Jan.
Rooster 5-2 3rd of 5, 6l behind Deckie at Higham 3m ptp gd in Jan.
Sleeping Night (FR) 1-4fav Held up behind, blundered and unseated rider at the 6th in race won by Vinnie Boy at Wincanton 3m 1f hts chs (H) sft, 5 ran.
Upham Lord (IRE) 11-2 Led, headed 5th, led again next, headed 8th, led again 12th, ridden and headed 2 out, every chance approaching last, one pace flat, 2nd of 9, 2l behind Guilsborough Gorse at Fakenham 2m 5f hcp chs 0-100 (F) gd in May.
