tracked leaders, led 5th, clear 4 out, jumped slow last, easily
led to 5th, one pace from 4 out
in rear, headway and close up when blundered badly and unseated rider 5 out
tracked leaders, outpaced halfway, rallied to chase winner 3 out, lost 2nd place last, no extra
in touch, pushed along and outpaced 5th, kept on approaching last
always behind and mistakes, weakened 6 out
tracked leader and keen, outpaced 5 out, stayed on to go 2nd flat, no chance with winner
It will be interesting to see how Armaguedon runs on his first start of the campaign but Len Lungo's runners have tended to be in need of their first start so he may be best watched and preference is for the in-form Jefertiti, who gets the vote ahead of It's Bertie. The selection has won his last two starts, latterly when beating Silver Sedge (a good winner since) at Newcastle; he has solid claims off just a 3lb higher mark. Stormy Beech has been in good form of late but may now be a shade high in the weights, while Stormy Lord has slipped to a decent mark but is hard to back with confidence on the form that he showed when last seen. Sue Smith's It's Bertie looks to be going the right way and has to be of interest off just a 5lb higher mark than when scoring at Carlisle last time. Jefertiti's form is rock solid though and he is taken to complete a hat trick.
Armaguedon (FR) 7-1 (11-12) Led, headed 11th, jumped right next, soon weakened, no chance when pulled up 4 out in race won by King Barry (11-5) at Ayr 2m 4f nov hcp chs 0-115 (3) gs in Apr, 11 ran.
Stormy Lord (IRE) 7-2fav (11-12) Led, headed after 3 out, ridden and weakened next, 4th of 7, 18l behind I'm Your Man (10-3) at Wetherby 2m hcp hdl 0-110 (4) hvy in May.
The Biker (IRE) 7-1 (10-13) Towards rear, headway from 4 out, every chance next, ridden and weakened run-in, 4th of 8, 13l behind Alexanderthegreat (11-0) at Kelso 2m 6f hcp chs 0-120 (3) gd.
Jefertiti (FR) 7-4fav (11-1) Led, ridden and headed 2 out, rallied to lead again after last, all out, won at Newcastle 2m hcp chs 0-115 (4) gd beating Silver Sedge (11-6) by a hd, 5 ran.
It's Bertie 8-1 (11-6) Made most, reminders 6th, ridden 2 out, held on gamely, won at Carlisle 2m nov hcp chs 0-105 (4) hvy in Oct beating Toulouse Express (10-10) by 3/4l, 9 ran.
Flaming Heck 5-2fav (11-1) Led, headed approaching 3rd, hit 2 out, soon weakened, last of 6, 20l behind Radar (11-2) at Carlisle 2m 1f cnd hcp hdl 0-110 (4) sft.
Stormy Beech 7-1 (10-3) Tracked leaders, ed 4 out, headed next, one pace, 2nd of 8, 6l behind Mr Prickle (11-1) at Wetherby 2m hcp chs 0-125 (3) sft.
