chased leader, led and went left 3 out, went left again and hit next, went left and narrowly headed last, soon ridden and hung left, no extra towards finish
edgy, unseated rider on way to post, restrained in rear, raced keenly, never on terms
held up towards rear and keen, never on terms
led, headed and pushed left 3 out, chased leader, pushed left again next, lost 2nd between last 2, weakened run-in, lost 4th near finish
held up off the pace in mid-division, not fluent and jumped big 4 out, pushed along and no headway before next
chased leaders on inside, hit 2nd, ridden and one pace in 3rd before the last
always towards rear, tailed off
chased leaders on outside, pushed along approaching 3 out, weakened before next
chased leaders, went 2nd between last 2, led narrowly last, stayed on well towards finish
never better than mid-division, behind soon after 4 out, tailed off
took keen hold, always towards rear, tailed off
raced keenly, held up in mid-division, pushed along before 3 out, plugged on into modest 4th close home
Dali Mail, a Kelso bumper winner, made an impressive start over timber over this track and trip where he was always travelling smoothly. He looks certain to go well again though has to concede weight to SEBASTOPOL, which may prove beyond him. Tom Lacey's charge, a winning point-to-pointer and bumper, started favourite for his hurdling bow at Cheltenham but a couple of mistakes and quick ground didn't play to his strengths, though he wasn't beaten far. He can gain compensation though Gordon Elliott's Whoshotthesheriff showed plenty of potential in bumpers and the half-brother to three winning hurdlers should relish this test. Fellow raider As The Crow Flies is a very interesting entry as he completed a five-timer between the flags in 2016/17, all of them very easily.
Dali Mail (FR) 2-1fav (11-8) Tracked leaders, poised to challenge 3 out, led before next, pushed clear between last 2, stayed on, comfortably, won at Ayr 2m mdn (5) hvy in Nov beating Sporting Press (11-8) by 8l, 9 ran.
As The Crow Flies (IRE) 4-6 (12-2) Sn ld, adv 4out, narrow ld 2out, qcknd clr run-in, won at Loughanmore 3m gs in Apr beating Mart Lane (11-11) by 5l, 3 ran.
Battle Hard (IRE) 40-1 (11-0) Led, soon clear, blundered 3rd, headed 3 out, soon lost place, tailed off, last of 8, dist behind Know The Score (11-0) at Hexham 2m 4f mdn (4) sft in Dec.
Dark Ruler (IRE) 9-2 (11-0) Mistake 1st, raced keenly, tracked leaders, lost place before 2 out, soon weakened, tailed off when pulled up before last, at Hexham 2m mdn (5) hvy in Dec.
Not The Chablis (IRE) 12-1 (11-8) Tracked leaders, effort 3 out, soon outpaced, ridden and kept on under pressure from last, no impression, 4th of 9, 12 1/4l behind Dali Mail (11-8) at Ayr 2m mdn (5) hvy in Nov.
Sebastopol (IRE) 15-8fav (11-0) Held up rear of mid-division, headway 3 out, ridden and not quicken after 2 out, stayed on same pace last, 4th of 13, 6 1/4l behind Thomas Darby (11-0) at Cheltenham 2m mdn (3) gd in Oct.
Strathy 66-1 (11-0) Towards rear, slow 2nd, ridden after 5th, behind before next, soon pulled up, at Perth 2m 4f mdn (4) gd in Jul.
Timesawaiting (IRE) 7-2 (10-12) Prominent, ridden before last, kept on same pace, 4th of 14, 10 1/4l behind Kick On Dottie (10-11) at Hexham 2m 4f (4) gd in May.
Whoshotthesheriff (IRE) 6-1 (11-7) Took keen hold, tracked leaders, soon 3rd, pushed along into straight, one pace 1f out, 3rd of 17, 4 3/4l behind Drop The Anchor (11-7) at Listowel 2m Yielding - Soft in Sep.
Robin De Plan (IRE) 66-1 (11-1) Chased leaders to 4th, soon behind, tailed off 4 out, pulled up before next, at Ayr 2m mdn (5) hvy in Nov.
Southeast Rose (IRE) 100-1 (10-12) Never better than mid-division, outpaced 3f out, weakened over 1f out, 11th of 16, 27 1/4l behind Mega Yeats (10-12) at Carlisle 2m 1f (5) gs in Oct.
Glenpark (FR) 8-1 (10-12) Close up, ridden 3 out, weakened next, 7th of 9, dist behind Nelson River (10-12) at Bangor 2m 1f mdn (4) gs in Nov.
