made all, jumped left 5th, ridden when pressed run-in, found extra towards finish, held on well
chased leaders on inner, hit 3 out, soon weakened
tracked winner, lost place from 7th, tailed off from 4 out
tracked leaders, pushed along after 7th, weakened after 4 out, tailed off
held up mid-division, pushed along and lost place before 7th, soon struggling, tailed off, pulled up before last
chased leaders, chased winner from 8th, every chance run-in, kept on, held towards finish
held up in rear and raced on outer, headway approaching 9th, every chance before 3 out, ridden before 2 out, soon weakened
held up towards rear and keen, ridden and weakened before 4 out, pulled up before last, tailed off
held up mid-division, headway to chase leaders before 3 out, went 3rd before last, no impression
Withdrawn
HEATHCLIFF was the subject of a gamble on heavy ground at Warwick last time but was in trouble at an early stage and only stayed on through beaten horses. This stiff track should play to his strengths, however, and Richard Lee's nine-year-old is given a chance to recoup losses. Diklers Oscar won over 2m4f at Ayr last month but could be vulnerable over the extra off her new mark and more interesting is Knockara Beau, who was having his first run over hurdles for almost two years when runner-up to the talented Grand Crus in a Grade 2 at Cheltenham 11 days ago. Taken literally, that form gives George Charlton's top weight strong claims in this. Thelobstercatcher won over this trip at Warwick last month but Sa Suffit has been off for a while and both Companero and Soft Spoken Guy were pulled up last time.
Knockara Beau (IRE) 33-1 (11-0) Chased leader, led after 6th, ridden and headed 2 out, soon no chance with very easy winner, just held on for 2nd, 2nd of 14, 10l behind Grands Crus (11-4) at Cheltenham 3m hdl G2 (1) gs in Jan.
Sa Suffit (FR) 12-1 (11-9) Chased leaders, dropped to mid-division 9th, pushed along after 11th, pulled up before 4 out, in a race won by From Dawn To Dusk (11-0) at Aintree 3m 1f lstd hcp chs (1) gd in Apr, 16 ran.
Companero (IRE) 12-1 (11-4) Tracked leaders, mistake 12th, ridden after 15th, weakened 16th, pulled up after, in a race won by West End Rocker (10-11) at Warwick 3m 5f hcp chs G3 (1) hvy in Jan, 15 ran.
Thelobstercatcher 25-1 (11-8) Tracked leaders, led approaching 5th, clear before 2 out, looked awkward flat, always holding on, won at Warwick 3m 1f hcp hdl 0-130 (3) gs in Jan beating Deep Pockets (10-13) by 2 1/2l, 14 ran.
Soft Spoken Guy (IRE) 7-1 (11-1) Ran in snatches, towards rear, in touch 6th, not fluent next, pushed along approaching 10th, soon weakened, pulled up before 3 out, in a race won by Kellystown Lad (11-1) at Sedgefield 2m 4f beg chs (4) sft in Nov, 7 ran.
Heathcliff (IRE) 9-2fav (10-6) In rear, not fluent 2nd, soon pushed along, always behind, 7th of 14, 43l behind Mobaasher (11-7) at Warwick 3m 1f hcp hdl (2) hvy in Jan.
Diklers Oscar (IRE) 5-2fav (10-13) Held up towards rear, headway after 4 out, led after last, kept on wel towards finish, won at Ayr 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-135 (3) gs in Jan beating Nodforms Violet (10-13) by 2 3/4l, 13 ran.
Mr Woods 16-1 (11-5) Led and jumped right throughout, headed approaching 2 out, soon weakened, 6th of 12, 22l behind Stopped Out (11-5) at Kelso 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-125 (3) sft in Nov.
Political Paddy 33-1 (11-7) Mid-division, ridden when mistake 3 out, never near leaders, 7th of 15, 20l behind Viva Colonia (10-8) at Wetherby 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-120 (3) gd in Oct.
Double Eagle 7-2 (11-9) Led, jumped mostly right throughout, headed 4 out, soon ridden and weakened, 5th of 9, 16l behind Borero (10-10) at Wetherby 3m 1f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gs in Jan.
