chased leader, led 8th, headed next, led 11th, ridden and 3 1/2 lengths ahead last, headed towards finish
led until 8th, led 9th, headed 11th, weakened 4 out, left 3rd 2 out
held up, headway 12th, not fluent 14th, went 2nd before 4 out, driven after 3 out, 3 1/2 lengths down last, stayed on dourly flat, led towards finish
held up on inside, headway 5th, ridden and weakened before 4 out, pulled up before 3 out
not jump well in rear, went 3rd after 4 out, very tired and remote when pulled up before 2 out
chased leaders, fell 14th
Mint Condition was only beaten a neck over slightly shorter here last month but TORN AND FRAYED probably deserves a first success over the larger obstacles after seconds at Ascot and Cheltenham, where he jumped well in the main. Chasing debutant Farrants Way goes well fresh and Ashtown Lad will find this easier than the Grade 2 he contested at Newbury. Bushypark jumped superbly at Kelso and is a prolific winner so can’t be ruled out raised only 5lb having won around here over hurdles.
Ashtown Lad (IRE) 5-1 (11-3) Chased leader, mistake 10th, dropped to last before 12th, pushed along after 5 out, soon struggling and tailed off, last of 4, dist behind Ahoy Senor (11-3) at Newbury 2m 7f (1) gs in Nov.
Bushypark (IRE) 9-4 (10-11) Made all, jumped well, ridden out after last, always holding rival, readily, won at Kelso 2m 7f hcp (3) sft in Dec beating Doyen Breed (11-8) by 4 1/4l, 4 ran.
Mint Condition 11-2 (11-2) Chased leaders on outside, went 2nd from 8th, every chance when out jumped last, held flat, carried left, stayed on, 2nd of 4, nk behind Kiltealy Briggs (11-2) at Haydock 2m 6f (2) hvy in Dec.
Torn And Frayed (FR) 8-1 (11-2) Led, headed 9th, remained prominent, pushed along before 2 out, left behind by winner after 2 out, ridden before last and kept on, 2nd of 4, 7l behind My Drogo (11-2) at Cheltenham 2m 5f (2) gs in Dec.
Farrants Way (IRE) 10-3fav (11-5) Slightly better than mid-division, pushed after 3rd, lost ground when driven before 7th where sloppy, detached 4 out, pulled up before 3 out, at Haydock 3m hcp (2) sft in Feb.
Frimeur De Lancray (FR) 5-1 (11-6) Prominent, led 4 out, joined from next, ridden and headed narrowly flat, ran on, 2nd of 9, shd behind Scoop The Pot (10-11) at Newcastle 2m 7f hcp (4) gs in Dec.