in touch, mistake 6th, chased winner 8th to after 4 out, ridden and beaten next
held up in touch, struggling 9th, tailed off from 3 out
chased winner to 8th, soon behind, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out
pulled hard in rear, pulled up before 3rd
held up in touch, went 3rd 9th, chased winner after 4 out, soon ridden, kept on same pace, no impression
in touch, blundered 6th, lost place next, behind from 10th, tailed off
made all, drew clear from 2 out, comfortably
This maiden chase can go the way of Soulard; the list of dangers is headed by Pencil House and General Hardi. The selection ran a blinder last time and only found the potentially useful Rapid Increase too good at Plumpton. He looks to be going the right way and he jumps well, so he could be difficult to catch if he is given another aggressive ride from the front. Pencil House could be the main danger as he showed plenty of promise on his chasing debut at Towcester last time. However, he will probably need to improve to beat the selection today. General Hardi was third behind Hollows Mist at Newcastle last time but he made a bad blunder in that race and he could be worth another chance as he had otherwise run very well. Trocadeno is lightly-raced but he need may this on his seasonal bow, and we will return to Soulard who can land the prize.
General Hardi 4-1 (11-0) Held up, headway when mistake 9th and 10th, ridden to chase winner 3 out to before last, no extra flat, 3rd of 11, 4 1/2l behind Hollows Mist (10-0) at Newcastle 2m 4f hcp chs 0-95 (5) gf.
Got The Gift (IRE) 8-1 (11-4) Held up in touch, outpaced when mistake 4 out, no impression after, 4th of 16, 23l behind Lawaaheb (11-8) at Wetherby 2m 7f hcp chs 0-90 (5) gf in Oct.
Lochanee (IRE) 100-1 (10-0) Chased leaders, lost place 12th, soon behind, tailed off when pulled up at the 15th in race won by Blazing Hills (11-12) at Newcastle 3m hcp chs (5) gf, 11 ran.
Naval Attache 50-1 (11-0) Mid-division and keen, weakening when fell 5 out in race won by Tritonix (11-5) at Warwick 2m nov hdl (4) gd in Mar, 17 ran.
Pencil House (IRE) 16-1 (11-3) Tracked leaders, hit 5th, weakened approaching last, 6th of 10, 20l behind Albertas Run (11-3) at Towcester 2m beg chs (4) gd in Oct.
Trocadeno (IRE) 25-1 (11-4) With leader until weakened 4f out, 8th of 13, 39l behind Supreme Builder (11-4) at Hexham 2m mdn nhf (6) sft in Apr.
Soulard (USA) Evensfav (11-0) Led, not fluent 4 out, driven after 3 out, strongly pressed last, headed flat, no extra, 2nd of 14, 3l behind Rapid Increase (11-0) at Plumpton 2m mdn hdl (5) gf in Oct.
