tracked leaders, led 3 out, ridden and headed before last, soon one pace
towards rear, pushed along before 5th, ridden and headway before 2 out, kept on run-in
towards rear, ridden before 2 out, never dangerous
tracked leaders in 4th, headway before 2 out, kept on from last
mid-division, went 5th before 2 out, one pace
in rear, pushed along 5th, headway before 2 out, led before and jumped slightly left last, kept on well
tracked leaders in 3rd, led before 4th, headed 3 out, ridden before 2 out, soon weakened
led, headed before 4th, ridden and every chance when hit 2 out, soon weakened
BLAKE DEAN may have found the 2m4f at Hexham too far back over fences last time. He won a hurdles race over 2m at Perth before that and gets another chance off his current mark. Winged Express won a chase at Chepstow in February and has a 12lb hike to contend with and Humbel Ben has been upped 8lb for winning at Fontwell. Swaledale Lad went close to ending a long losing run when second at Sedgefield last month and Ballycool also has a shout on his earlier win over these fences as he drops back in trip.
Swaledale Lad (IRE) 11-2 (11-12) Tracked leaders, went 2nd from 5th, led before 2 out, headed before last, kept on, 2nd of 8, 3 3/4l behind Safari Journey (11-10) at Sedgefield 2m 3f hcp (4) gd in Sep.
Chankillo 40-1 (11-9) Always towards rear, 8th of 11, dist behind Little Pop (11-9) at Hereford 2m hcp (4) gd in Oct.
Ballycool (IRE) 9-1 (11-10) Behind, outpaced before 4 out, headway before last, kept on to take 3rd place close home, 3rd of 8, 19 3/4l behind Safari Journey (11-10) at Sedgefield 2m 3f hcp (4) gd in Sep.
Winged Express (IRE) 11-4fav (11-8) Chased leaders, 3rd after 2nd, challenged and hit 2 out, driven into narrow lead between last 2, headed before last, one pace and no impression on winner run-in, 2nd of 7, 3 1/2l behind Wolftrap (10-10) at Newton Abbot 2m 1f hcp (5) sft in Apr.
Blake Dean 15-8fav (11-5) Held up, headway 12th, ridden after 2 out, disputing 3rd and no impression on leading pair last, 4th of 6, 7 1/2l behind Formidableopponent (10-12) at Hexham 2m 4f hcp (5) gd in Sep.
Humbel Ben (IRE) 4-1 (10-2) Mistakes 2nd and next, held up in last pair, mistake 6th, lost place next, rallied into 4th again approaching 9th, 2nd after 4 out, still plenty to do and went left next, hit last, keeping on when not much room on inside run-in, led towards finish, won at Fontwell 2m 1f hcp (4) gd in Aug beating Highbury High (11-6) by 3/4l, 5 ran.
Maizy Missile (IRE) 9-1 (11-3) Prominent, ridden and weakened 2 out, 8th of 10, 31 3/4l behind Gwili Spar (10-0) at Uttoxeter 2m hcp (5) gd in Sep.
Spread Boy (IRE) 20-1 (10-1) Mid-division, ridden before last, one pace and no impression, 6th of 10, 21 3/4l behind Civil Unrest (11-12) at Hexham 2m hcp (5) gd in Oct.
