mid-division, mistake 2nd, headway before 6th, struggling approaching 12th, soon behind, blundered 4 out, pulled up before 3 out
tracked leaders, went 2nd and jumped left from 4 out, not fluent 3 out, no impression on winner next, stayed on same pace
towards rear, behind from 8th, pulled up before 12th
not fluent in rear, behind when blundered badly 8th, pulled up before next
tracked leaders, mistake 1st, jumped left and lost place next, reminders after 3rd, behind from 8th, pulled up before 4 out
led after 2nd, mistake and headed next, weakened before 4 out, pulled up before next
tracked leaders, 2nd from 10th until 4 out, weakened after next
in rear, jumped right at times, just about in touch 10th, soon weakened, pulled up before 4 out
led until after 2nd, led 3rd, not fluent 11th, clear before 2 out, driven out
Nonrunner
Sail And Return carries a penalty for a recent victory over 2m4f at Southwell but he's versatile as to trip and has conditions in his favour again so shouldn't be far away. Orby's Man will have learned plenty from his chasing bow at Worcester and still has time on his side, as does River Deep. Houndscourt has been in good form lately and got back to winning ways at Sedgefield, though has done most of his winning there. Hexham runner-up Big Sound is still on a winning mark but HIGH RON won twice over 3m2f here on good ground last summer and looks primed to go well again after his latest second at Southwell. Midnight Cataria may be best of the rest.
Orby's Man (IRE) 5-2 (10-12) Chased leader, closed 11th, ridden before 4 out, lost place next, 4th of 5, 25l behind Deadly Sting (10-12) at Worcester 2m 7f nov chs (4) gd in May.
High Ron 4-1 (10-12) Led to 5 out, ridden before 3 out, chased winner from last, no impression, 2nd of 6, 7l behind Pair Of Jacks (11-12) at Southwell 2m 4f hcp chs 0-130 (3) gd in May.
Everaard (USA) 20-1 (10-11) Towards rear, not always fluent, struggling from 5th, tailed off 10th, pulled up after, in a race won by William Money (11-0) at Haydock 3m 4f hcp chs 0-130 (3) sft in Apr, 13 ran.
River Deep (IRE) 2-1fav (11-4) Raced in 4th, reminders 5th and when not fluent 9th, closed before 4 out, blundered badly 3 out, no extra in 4th before last, weakened flat, 4th of 5, 28l behind Flash Tommie (10-0) at Stratford 2m 4f nov hcp chs 0-120 (4) gf in May.
Fort George (IRE) 11-2 (11-2) Close up until before 6th, tailed off 8th, soon pulled up, in a race won by Sporting Boy (11-12) at Stratford 2m 5f hcp chs 0-120 (4) gd in May, 8 ran.
Book Of Excuses (IRE) 9-1 (11-12) Led until mistake and headed 3rd, led again next, headed 4 out, soon outpaced by winner, kept on same pace after last, lost 2nd close home, 3rd of 4, 7l behind Vesperal Dream (11-11) at Taunton 2m 7f hcp chs 0-115 (4) fm in Oct.
Houndscourt (IRE) 11-2 (11-3) Mid-division, headway 4 out, ridden to lead run-in, kept on well, driven out, won at Sedgefield 2m 6f hcp chs 0-115 (4) sft in May beating Be A Dreamer (10-0) by 2 1/2l, 7 ran.
Midnight Cataria 9-2 (11-5) Tracked leaders, ridden after 4 out, not fluent 3 out, soon weakened, 4th of 5, 39l behind Ballybough Pat (11-12) at Kempton 3m hcp chs 0-120 (4) gd in May.
Big Sound 9-2 (11-3) Prominent, not fluent 4 out, went 2nd 2 out, no impression on winner last, stayed on, 2nd of 7, 6l behind Pinerolo (11-10) at Hexham 3m 1f hcp chs 0-120 (4) gd in May.
Sail And Return 5-1 (11-12) Chased leaders, went 2nd 4 out, led 3 out, ridden clear before last, easily, won at Southwell 2m 4f hcp ch 0-110 (4) gd beating Teddy's Reflection (11-2) by 4 1/2l, 10 ran.
