held up towards rear, ridden 4 out, stayed on from last
held up in rear, hit 11th, tailed off 5 out, pulled up soon after
held up in rear, headway approaching 5 out, every chance 2 out, disputed 2nd when blundered badly last, one pace
tracked leader, lost place 10th, tailed off 5 out, pulled up before 4 out
tracked leaders, hit 11th, reminders 5 out, led 3 out, headed next, kept on, no chance with winner
tracked leaders, headway approaching 3 out, led 2 out, clear approaching last, easily
held up in touch, chasing leaders when mistake 5 out, weakening when hit 3 out
led to 3 out, weakened next
prominent, pushed along 4 out, soon weakened
This better ground will suit JUSTWHATEVERULIKE and he is preferred to Royal Mackintosh and Fiftyfive Degrees. Sandra Forster's gelding has been in good form over the last year, winning twice at Kelso in four starts there. Today he ventures to a different track but his best form is on a decent surface like we have today and with Tom Messenger back in the saddle the pair could go well. Royal Mackintosh is a strong-stayer and lost little caste in defeat when third to L'Aventure in the Borders National, El Bandito has gone well fresh in the past but is hard to put forward having returned lame when last seen, whilst this trip is more realistic for the one-paced Camden George. Timmy Murphy takes over in the saddle on Fiftyfive Degrees who was a ready winner at the track last month; the gelding has a 5lb higher mark to contend with today but has plenty in his favour. Categorical took advantage of a tidy mark at Newcastle last month but has been severely spanked on the bottom by the handicapper for that, Harry Flashman looks well-treated if getting his jumping together, whilst Snowy has failed to complete on his last two starts. The return to this longer trip on better ground will suit bottom-weight General Hardi who cannot be ignored, however the vote of confidence goes to Justwhateverulike.
Camden George (IRE) 12-1 (11-11) Chased leader to 2nd, reminders to regain 2nd at 3rd, led approaching 4th, headed next, led again approaching 5 out, headed approaching 4 out, soon weakened, 5th of 7, 38l behind Fred Bojangals (10-5) at Ayr 2m hcp chs 0-135 (3) gd in Feb.
El Bandindos (IRE) 10-3fav (11-6) Held up in rear, headway into moderate 4th 3 out, well held when blundered last, tailed off, 5th of 10, well behind Spare Change (10-3) at Newton Abbot 3m 2f hcp chs 0-135 (3) gd in Jul.
Justwhateverulike (IRE) 20-1 (10-12) Held up behind, reminders 11th, outpaced 4 out, kept on same pace from next, never on terms, 4th of 5, 28l behind Sa Suffit (11-2) at Kelso 2m 6f chs (2) sft.
Royal Mackintosh 6-1 (10-6) Tracked leaders, ridden approaching 3 out, kept on same pace, 3rd of 9, 17l behind L'aventure (10-11) at Kelso 4m hcp chs 0-145 (2) sft in Dec.
Fiftyfive Degrees (IRE) 9-2 (11-9) Tracked leader, pressed leader 4 out, led next, kept on from last, driven out, won at Ayr 2m 4f hcp ch 0-110 (4) gd in Feb beating Something Silver (10-4) by 4l, 7 ran.
Categorical 13-2 (11-11) Held up towards rear, headway 5th, led after next until 8th, led 9th until 10th, led 11th until 12th, led 4 out, drew clear after 3 out, eased towards finish, won at Newcastle 2m 4f hcp chs 0-100 (4) hvy in Feb beating Seven Is Lucky (11-6) by 8l, 14 ran.
Harry Flashman 16-1 (9-7) Held up towards rear, mistake 12th, mistake 4 out, soon weakened, last of 7, 30l behind BallaBriggs (11-2) at Ayr 3m 1f hcp chs 0-145 (2) gd in Feb.
Snowy (IRE) 9-1 (10-11) Held up in touch, outpaced 4 out, left 12 lengths down in 3rd when hampered and unseated rider 3 out, in a race won by John Forbes (11-6) at Musselburgh 2m 4f clm chs (4) gs in Feb, 7 ran.
General Hardi 25-1 (10-10) Chased leaders, ridden after 4 out, badly hampered after 3 out, not recover, 7th of 11, 35l behind Lease Lend (11-12) at Catterick 2m 3f hcp chs 0-120 (3) gs in Feb.