never going well, chased leader, mistake 3rd, lost place 7th and dropped to rear, pulled up 9th
held up in touch, headway 12th, going well and tracked winner soon after 3 out, ridden next, found little
led, ridden and headed 4 out, weakened 2 out
in touch, chased leader 8th, ridden to lead 4 out, hit next, stayed on
unseated rider 1st
prominent, pecked 2nd, chased leader 7th until next, ridden 12th, weakened soon after 4 out
New Time can bounce back with a win here at the main expense of Day Du Roy and Flinders Bay. A winner at Wincanton two starts back, the selection then failed to run his race at Huntingdon when tackling fences again. Plenty of mistakes curtailed his chance there but assuming he jumps better today, he can go well. It may be that he is better over hurdles, where he has a lower mark and if this is the case, then Day Du Roy may be the one to take advantage. Despite a tendency to jump out to his right, all of his wins have come going left-handed and a winner over the course and distance in the past, a big run cannot be ruled out today. Flinders Bay returns to the bigger obstacles but his lack of experience may just find him out, whilst Cash On Friday needs to jump better but cannot be ruled out if he does. Plenty will depend on the jumping here, however New Time has scope for more improvement and gets the nod.
New Time (IRE) 10-3fav (10-5) Tracked leaders, lost place 4 out, mistake next, soon beaten, 7th of 9, well behind Otantique (11-12) at Huntingdon 3m hcp chs 0-120 (3) gd in Oct.
Flinders Bay (IRE) 3-1 (10-12) Held up mid-division, headway before 4 out, led and hit 3 out, ridden and headed before last, soon outpaced by winner, 2nd of 7, 8l behind Thehonourablelady (10-5) at Fakenham 2m 4f nov hdl (4) gd in Oct.
Day du Roy (FR) 7-1 (11-3) Led, jumped right throughout, headed approaching 4 out, soon weakened, 8th of 10, 41l behind Romany Dream (11-8) at Fakenham 2m 5f hcp chs 0-100 (4) gf in May.
Cash On Friday 5-1 (10-0) Mid-division, headway 4 out, 3 lengths down in 4th when blundered and unseated rider 3 out in race won by Kalmo Bay (10-7) at Hexham 2m 4f cnd hcp chs 0-105 (4) gf, 8 ran.
Jendali Lad 12-1 (10-10) Mistakes, behind, outpaced 11th, behind when blundered 4 out, pulled up before next pulled up 5 out in race won by Hollows Mist (10-0) at Newcastle 2m 4f hcp chs 0-95 (5) gf, 11 ran.
Boscall Hill (IRE) 16-1 (10-9) Led, headed 5th, remained prominent until weakened 9th, 8th of 9, well behind Keepitsecret (11-12) at Fakenham 2m 7f nov hcp hdl 0-100 (4) gf in May.
