tracked leading pair, hit 10th, went 2nd before the last, stayed on same pace under pressure run-in, always held
jumped right on occasions, made all, stretched on before 7th, hit 13th, pushed along and stayed on well run-in, unchallenged
chased winner, pushed along before 4 out, ridden before 2 out, lost 2nd before the last, stayed on same pace in 3rd
held up in 4th place, dropped to last at 9th, tailed off when mistake 15th, blundered 3 out, pulled up before next
raced keenly, held up in rear, closer in 4th when mistake 9th, mistake and struggling 13th, blundered 15th, plugged on, never any chance
Two potentially top-class novices are in opposition here. Both carry penalties but they should, barring accidents, dominate. Ardlethen beat a well-regarded chasing newcomer on his own chasing bow at Chepstow. That form has already been franked and Dan Skelton’s six-year-old is going to to be better over fences than hurdles but high-class hurdler SAM SPINNER, though a little ponderous, stayed on strongly to beat the odds-on Beakstown here last month and will know more today. Senor Lombardy clearly has jumping issues but could fill a place with a clear round.
Ardlethen (IRE) 15-2 (11-0) Held up in touch, blundered 8th, tracked leaders 11th, switched towards outside to challenge 2 out, led soon after last, ridden flat, held on near finish, all out, won at Chepstow 3m (3) gs in Oct beating Lisnagar Oscar (11-0) by nk, 6 ran.
Sam Spinner 5-4 (11-3) Slightly hampered start, chased leaders, slow 6th, jumped right next, outpaced when jumped right and not fluent 11th, rallied 4 out, went 2nd 2 out, led flat, stayed on strongly, won at Wetherby 2m 3f (4) gs in Oct beating Beakstown (11-3) by 3l, 5 ran.
Coole Hall (IRE) 7-1 (11-0) Chased leaders, slow 5th and 7th, soon hung left, under pressure 10th, tailed off 13th, pulled up 5 out, at Wetherby 3m (4) gs in Dec.
Mance Rayder (IRE) 11-2 (12-0) Chased leaders, outpaced after 3 out, rallied after next, soon challenging, stayed on strongly to lead closing stages, won at Carlisle 2m 3f hcp (4) gd in Feb beating Border Victor (11-1) by 1 1/4l, 11 ran.
Senor Lombardy (IRE) 6-4 (11-2) Led, fell 4 out, at Hexham 3m (4) sft in Oct.
