with leader, blundered 2nd, ridden and no extra when lost 2nd place before last
towards rear, headway before 4 out, ridden to chase leader before last, kept on to lead towards finish
tracked leaders in 3rd, fell 2nd
in rear, weakened from 8 out, soon tailed off, pulled up
tracked leaders in 4th, weakened before 9 out, tailed off
tracked leaders, outpaced from 4 out
led, ridden before 2 out, kept on and headed towards finish
The drop in trip and a welter burden are concerns but TITIAN BOY has been in good form over 2m4f around here this season and his stamina should be an asset under forecast conditions. Gin Cobbler is the likely pacemaker and could hang on to make the frame as Baraboy is not easy to predict and neither is Duhallowcountry. Willie Hall seems to be feeling his age but Hexham third Five Point Plan is having only his third run over fences and has won a point-to-point.
Titian Boy (IRE) 5-6fav (11-9) Led to 9 out, led again 7 out, clear when blundered 4 out, kept on from last, driven out, won at Ayr 2m 4f hcp (5) sft in Dec beating Danehills Well (11-6) by 1l, 11 ran.
Baraboy (IRE) 18-1 (11-12) Held up in touch in rear, mistake 2nd, outpaced after 8th, remote 3rd before 4 out until 2 out, 4th of 6, 35l behind Thankyou Very Much (11-9) at Musselburgh 2m 1f hcp (4) gd in Nov.
Gin Cobbler 16-1 (10-13) Chased leaders, 4th and outpaced after 8th, rallied into 3rd before 4 out until before next, modest 3rd again approaching the last, no chance with 1st two, 3rd of 6, 16 1/2l behind Lake Chapala (10-12) at Musselburgh 2m hcp (4) gd in Nov.
Willie Hall 10-1 (11-6) Always behind, tailed off before 9th, pulled up before 3 out, at Sedgefield 2m hcp (5) sft in Nov.
Five Point Plan (IRE) 80-1 (11-2) In rear, soon tracked leaders in 3rd, weakened from 3 out, 3rd of 7, 9 3/4l behind Halcyon Days (11-5) at Hexham 2m hcp (5) hvy in Dec.
Duhallowcountry (IRE) 5-1 (10-8) Led, headed before 9th, ridden before 2 out, soon weakened, pulled up before last, at Sedgefield 2m hcp (5) sft in Nov.
Anitopia 125-1 (10-7) Mid-division, mistake 9th, headway to chase winner next, lost place 5 out, soon weakened, tailed off, 6th of 11, dist behind Titian Boy (10-2) at Ayr 2m 4f hcp (4) sft in Nov.