held up in rear, headway 13th, every chance 2 out, mistake last, weakened flat
close up, chased leader 10th, led before 2 out, ridden, headed and stayed on near finish
held up in touch, every chance from 3 out, mistake next, driven to lead near finish
mistake and unseated rider after 2nd
held up, improved 13th, mistake next, not fluent and weakened 2 out
held up, ridden and headway 10th, weakened 3 out
held up, headway after 8th, ridden and mistake 3 out
led and mistake 1st, headed 6th, left in lead 8th, fell 10th
chased leaders, stumbled and unseated rider 2nd
prominent, left in lead 10th, ridden and headed before 2 out, soon weakened
prominent, led 6th, unseated rider 8th
A competitive and interesting novices' hunter chase can go to Killard Point, with Irilut and Bosham Mill also making it onto the shortlist. In truth, it is hard to be dogmatic when forming a view in a race of this nature at this time of the season, and the betting market might prove useful in this respect. What we can say is that Killard Point comes here in form and, also, from a stable that has already had a hunter chase winner this season. Irilut comes here in fine form from the pointing fields and has to be considered, while Bosham Mill, a talented but not entirely straightforward performer when last seen under Rules, would be a threat to all if he's been sweetened up by Philip Hobbs. Others to get a mention are the Jonjo O'Neill-trained Drombeag and Kerstino Two, who will come here fit following a fair recent run but, for the selection, we will stick with Killard Point.
Beauchamp Oracle 28-1 (11-7) Held up in touch, lost place 12th, headway 5 out, not fluent 4 out, soon weakened, behind when pulled up 3 out in race won by Lord Beau (11-7) at Stratford 3m 4f nov hts chs (H) gd in May, 16 ran.
Blaze On 6-1 (12-0) pulled up in race won by Cracking Dawn (12-0) at 3m ptp gd in Jan, 12 ran.
Bosham Mill 11-4 (11-4) Tracked leaders, led 8th, headed 4 out, weakened before next, tailed off when pulled up at the last in race won by Comply Or Die (11-4) at Cheltenham 3m 1f nov hdl Grd 2 (A) gs in Dec '03, 9 ran.
Drombeag (IRE) 8-1 (11-7) In rear, steady headway from 20th, chased clear leader after 2 out, weakened flat, 3rd of 22, 8l behind Native Emperor (11-11) at Cheltenham 4m nov amt chs (B) gd in Mar '04.
Irilut (FR) 9-2 (12-0) won 3m ptp gd in Jan beating Kerstino Two (12-0) by 11l, 14 ran.
Kerstino Two 4-1jt-fav (12-0) 2nd of 14, 11l behind Irilut (12-0) 3m ptp gd in Jan.
Killard Point (IRE) 7-2 (12-0) 2nd of 10, 8l behind Irilut (12-0) at Tweseldown 3m ptp gd in Jan.
Lightning Strikes (IRE) 3-1 (10-9) Tracked leader, led approaching 2 out, driven clear flat, eased close home, won at Market Rasen 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-120 (D) gd in Apr '03 beating Rising Generation (11-0) by 8l, 4 ran.
Tender Tangle 11-10fav (12-0) won at Chaddesley Corb' 3m ptp gf in May beating The Small Farmer (12-0) by 7l, 12 ran.
Which Pocket (IRE) 5-2 (12-0) 2nd of 8, 20l behind My Best Buddy (12-5) at Dunthrop 3m ptp gd in Jan.
Wings of Hope (IRE) 6-1 (12-5) 3rd of 6, 30l behind County Derry (12-5) at Dunthrop 4m ptp gd in Jan.
Lady Misprint 13-2 (10-7) 2nd of 9, 6l behind Rimpton Boy (11-0) at Point To Point 3m ptp gd in Jan.
Christy Beamish (IRE) 9-4fav (11-11) Held up last, headway 15th, mistake 16th, challenged 4 out, led approaching 3 out, headed approaching 2 out, no extra, 4th of 16, 30l behind Lord Beau (11-7) at N Abbot 3m 2f hts chs (H) gd in Apr.
Magnus Veritas (IRE) 5-2fav (12-0) pulled up in race won by Astley Gold (12-0) at Heythrop 3m ptp gd in Jan '05, 13 ran.
Shraden Edition 5-2 (12-0) 2nd of 16, 6l behind Darnil (12-0) at Eyton-On-severn 3m ptp gd.
