tracked leaders, went 2nd 14th, led 2 out, clear when went right and stumbled on landing last, stayed on strongly
raced wide, tracked leader until 4th, chased leaders, effort on outside in 3rd going well 3 out, disputing 2nd when pecked 2 out, soon ridden and weakened
in touch when blundered badly and lost place 4th, never really travelled or jumped with any fluency after, rallied into 5th after 4 out, weakened next, left poor 4th 2 out
led until 2 out, chased winner, ridden between last 2, held last, kept on same pace run-in
tracked leaders, went 2nd 4th until mistake 14th, chased leaders, pushed along and outpaced in 4th after 4 out, ridden and weakening when blundered and unseated rider 2 out
in touch, blundered and stumbled badly 15th, behind next, tailed off and pulled up after 4 out
chased leaders on inside, weakened 15th, tailing off when mistake next, went badly left 18th, pulled up before 3 out
behind, jumped slowly 1st, struggling when mistake 12th, modest 6th when mistake 18th, blundered next, tailed off
Loose Chips is something of a course specialist but is possibly better on quicker ground and was beaten by BEG TO DIFFER on worse terms here just under a year ago. Jonjo O’Neill’s seven-year-old has been given time to recover from a fine fourth in the Welsh National and has been dropped 3lb since. Otago Trail is hard to catch right but beat Bristol De Mai in the Rehearsal Chase at Newcastle on his reappearance and was second to that horse in the Peter Marsh at Haydock two weeks ago. Rock The Kasbah was well beaten when tried over 3m over hurdles last season and a case could be made that Irish Saint is also better over shorter. Antony and Sandy Beach look in the handicapper’s grip now.
Otago Trail (IRE) 11-1 (10-13) Led, headed before 3rd, chased leaders, challenged 4 out, ridden before 3 out, soon every chance, held in 2nd when pecked badly 2 out, one pace and no chance with winner, 2nd of 14, 22l behind Bristol De Mai (11-2) at Haydock 3m hcp (1) sft in Jan.
Irish Saint (FR) 7-1 (11-7) Held up towards rear, pushed along in 5th on inside after 3 out, went 4th 2 out, ridden and weakened between last two, 6th of 14, 10l behind Regal Encore (11-1) at Ascot 3m hcp lst (1) gs in Dec.
Rock The Kasbah (IRE) 15-8 (11-6) Tracked leading pair, not fluent 4th, tracked (clear) winner 8th, blundered 11th, closed next, pushed along and no impression after 3 out, closed towards finish but never able to challenge, 2nd of 4, 4l behind Politologue (11-6) at Ascot 2m 5f (1) gs in Dec.
Loose Chips 16-1 (11-2) Led, hit 18th and stumbled, headed 3 out, chased winner until after next, driven and kept on same pace in 3rd run-in, 3rd of 16, 5 3/4l behind Pete The Feat (10-1) at Sandown 3m hcp (2) sft in Jan.
Beg To Differ (IRE) 33-1 (10-13) Prominent, ridden after 17th, 3rd 5 out, no extra before 2 out, mistake last, 4th of 20, 18 1/4l behind Native River (11-12) at Chepstow 3m 5f hcp (1) sft in Dec.
Antony (FR) 5-1fav (11-8) Chased leaders, 2nd approaching 13th, went left 4 out, went left again and lost 2nd next, chased leaders, weakened 2 out, 8th of 16, 33 3/4l behind O Maonlai (11-6) at Newbury 2m 6f hcp (3) gs in Nov.
Sandy Beach 8-1 (10-11) Held up in mid-division, steady headway 11th, chased leaders next, went 3rd 13th until next where left 3rd, pushed along and no impression before 3 out, 3rd of 10, 11 1/2l behind Our Kaempfer (11-0) at Kempton 3m hcp (2) gs in Jan.
Turban (FR) 66-1 (11-2) Held up towards rear, left in 4th place 14th, ridden along after next, plugged on, no impression, 4th of 10, 29 1/2l behind Our Kaempfer (11-0) at Kempton 3m hcp (2) gs in Jan.
