held up in touch, struggling 10th, never dangerous
mid-division, lost place and behind from 6th, soon tailed off
held up behind, headway and in touch on outside 4 out, went 3rd after last, ridden and kept on same pace flat, no impression
tracked leader, led after 10th, driven clear after last, ridden out flat, stayed on well
led, hit 10th, soon headed, in touch, lost place after last, weakened flat
chased leaders, outpaced when not much room on inside after last, weakened flat
blundered 2nd, soon in touch on outside, went 2nd and ridden flat, kept on, no impression with winner
mid-division, chased leaders 8th, challenged after 10th, lost place after last, kept on same pace flat
mid-division, struggling 10th, weakened 4 out, soon behind
Nonrunner
Cruchain arrives out of form but won this in 2013 and several of these have more recent form at the course. Cool Star returned a wide-margin winner over track and trip last month but the assessor took umbrage and raised him 21lb. The Society Man finished runner-up here last time and can race off the same mark but Sendiym is upped in class after a fourth over these fences. Sedgefield winner Houndscourt failed to cope with a 7lb rise last time though Welsh Bard looks fairly treated on his return to action. But ROMANY RYME and Richard Johnson teamed-up to win over hurdles at Perth earlier in the month and it could pay to stick with Gordon Elliott's charge back over the larger obstacles.
Welsh Bard (IRE) 10-11fav (11-3) Tracked leader, not fluent 1st, slow next, niggled along 5th, lost 2nd 9th, reminders after 10th, losing touch 11th, left 2nd 13th, no impression, 2nd of 3, 10l behind Waltz Darling (11-7) at Musselburgh 3m hcp (3) gd in Nov.
Houndscourt (IRE) 10-1 (11-5) Tracked leaders, 2nd from 10th until 4 out, weakened after next, 3rd of 9, dist behind Big Sound (11-1) at Uttoxeter 3m hcp (4) gd in Jun.
Romany Ryme 5-2fav (11-4) Held up in 5th, 4th place at 4th, chased leading pair next, 2nd before 3 out, led approaching next, just over 1 length ahead last, hard driven run-in, just held on, all out, won at Perth 3m hcp (4) gd in Jul beating Caledon Craic (11-7) by hd, 7 ran.
Dystonia's Revenge (IRE) 18-1 (10-10) Always towards rear, pulled up before last, at Hexham 3m hcp (3) gd in Jun.
Cool Star (IRE) 15-2 (10-13) Made all, drew well clear before home bend, stayed on well, won at Cartmel 2m 5f hcp (5) gd in Jun beating Larkhall (10-0) by 29l, 11 ran.
Jack The Gent (IRE) 11-4fav (10-13) Led, clear 3rd until next, hit 8th, mistake and headed 3 out (usual 4 out), no chance with easy winner, held on for 2nd, 2nd of 4, 12l behind Furrows (11-8) at Southwell 2m hcp (4) gs in Jun.
Mister D (IRE) 7-2fav (11-2) Took keen hold, held up in 5th, 4th approaching 9th, 3rd next, 2nd approaching 3 out until driven next, chased leading pair, hard driven and one pace when hung right run-in, lost 3rd post, 4th of 7, 4l behind Just Awake (11-12) at Perth 2m 4f hcp (4) gd in Jul.
The Society Man (IRE) 15-2 (10-6) Held up mid-division, went 3rd before 4 out, chased winner before last, kept on and held run-in, 2nd of 7, 5l behind Pena Dorada (11-0) at Cartmel 3m 1f hcp (4) gd in Jun.
Sendiym (FR) 9-1 (11-4) Tracked leaders and keen, went 3rd before last, one pace, 4th of 12, 7 1/2l behind Redclue (12-5) at Cartmel 2m 6f hcp (5) gd in Jun.
Cruchain (IRE) 17-2 (11-4) Mid-division and keen, headway before 9th to chase leaders, soon weakened, pulled up, at Stratford 2m 7f hcp (4) gd in Jun.
