held up in last pair, outpaced 3 out, weakened 2 out
held up in last pair, not fluent 4 out, headway next, went 2nd 2 out, led going well before last, clear flat, eased close home
took keen hold, not always fluent, tracked leader, led 2nd until after 3rd, stayed 2nd until 3 out, outpaced from next
held up in touch, went 3rd 2 out, soon ridden, kept on same pace, no chance with winner
tracked leaders, not fluent 4th, 2nd briefly when not fluent 3 out, driven and outpaced after next
led, jumped right and not fluent 1st, headed when not fluent next, led again after 3rd, headed when blundered last, no chance with winner, kept on same pace
Swaledale Lad will be back over fences soon but Buckwheat, a fair sort on the Flat, has only had the two runs over timber and his latest third at Doncaster looks better now than it did at the time. Dovils Date was placed twice in this grade last summer and should be all the better for a recent spin on the Flat while Purple 'n Gold beat a strong field at Haydock in March and seems to get on well with Kieron Edgar. GOOD OF LUCK is worse off at the weights than when beaten by Sleep In First at Sedgefield in September but had clearly benefited from a break when bolting up at Bangor on his reappearance. He can continue heading in the right direction by taking this off a 13lb higher mark.
Swaledale Lad (IRE) 6-1 (11-9) Chased leaders, shaken up 3 out, stayed on same pace, unable to get on terms, 3rd of 6, 9l behind Arkaim (11-8) at Ludlow 2m hcp chs 0-140 (3) gd in Mar.
Buckwheat 10-11fav (11-11) Tracked leaders, joined leader after 5th, led narrowly approaching 2 out (usual 3 out), headed before omitted last, no chance with winner flat, lost 2nd near finish, 3rd of 15, 9l behind Days Of Heaven (11-11) at Doncaster 2m nh nov hdl (4) gs in Jan.
Dovils Date 6-1 (11-4) Tracked leaders, went 2nd 3rd, led 3 out, headed last, stayed on same pace flat, 2nd of 9, 5l behind Smart Ruler (10-12) at Cartmel 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-130 (3) gd in Aug.
Purple 'n Gold (IRE) 8-1 (10-2) Prominent, headway before 3 out, kept on to lead towards finish, won at Haydock 2m hcp hdl 0-140 (3) gs in Mar beating Handiwork (11-2) by hd, 11 ran.
Good of Luck 8-1 (11-4) Held up in touch, tracked leaders after 4 out, challenged on inside after next, led 2 out, driven clear between last 2, ran on well, comfortably, won at Bangor 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-120 (4) gd in May beating Court Dismissed (11-11) by 11l, 8 ran.
Sleep In First (FR) 14-1 (11-8) Led to 3rd, weakened from 4 out, 5th of 8, 27l behind Morning With Ivan (10-2) at Cartmel 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) sft in May.
