led, hit 6th, headed 8th, soon lost touch, tailed off
tracked leader, led 8th, driven and stayed on well 2f out, edged left flat, driven out
chased leaders, ridden and weakened approaching 10th, soon beaten, tailed off
towards rear, chased leaders 10th, kept on one pace from 2 out
in rear, headway 10th, chased winner 2 out, kept on, not pace to challenge (wore cheek pieces)
prominent, ridden 4 out, soon behind, tailed off
held up in touch, chased winner from 9th, soon ridden and weakened approaching 2 out, tailed off
Gunther McBride developed in to one of the leading staying chasers last term after scoring twice here including the Racing Post Chase in February. The Philip Hobbs-trained gelding was far from disgraced on his final start when third of 18 in the Scottish Grand National at Ayr and looks set for another profitable campaign. However, he is unlikely to be cherry ripe on his return and this looks a warm up for a return to the larger obstacles so is worth opposing on this occasion. The Teamtalk nod goes to The Manse Brae who has done little wrong of late having landed his final two starts over hurdles last term and picked up where he left off when making a successful chasing bow at Bangor in September. With fitness on his side, The Manse Brae is the percentage call while narrow course and distance winner Ballyvaddy looks best of the remainder.
