chased winner until 4 out, chased leading pair, ridden and well held before 2 out, weakened and just held on for 3d
tracked leading pair, went left 6th, ridden and lost 3rd 11th, weakened next, mistake 13th
raced wide and held up last, not fluent 4th, jumped slowly and ridden 10th, never on terms
tracked leaders in 4th, went 3rd 11th, went 2nd 4 out, driven and no impression on winner between last 2, plugged on flat and well clear of 3rd
held up in 5th, chased leading trio 12th, driven along before 2 out, kept on flat pressing for modest 3rd, dropped to 4th post
mainly jumped well, made all, clear 4 out, ridden and stayed on flat, unchallenged
held up in last pair, went left 4th and 8th, went 5th 13th, ridden before 10th, stayed on flat, went modest 4th post
Tutchec is on a hat-trick after back-to-back wins over 2m4f here but he's never done anything to suggest he'll stay this far on ground with some give. HAROUET is two from two on this course after beating Lively Baron by a nose over 3m here on his reappearance. Peter Bowen's stayer can defy a 4lb weight rise with Safran De Cotte and Isla Pearl Fisher, who both did well last season, returning from an absence. Herdsman won at Bangor last month but has been raised 8lb and Frank The Sink was still beaten 14 lengths when second at Newcastle.
Safran De Cotte (FR) 9-4fav (11-4) Cheased leaders, weakened 9th, tailed off 11th, pulled up approaching 3 out, in a race won by Mcmurrough (11-0) at Haydock 2m 4f hcp chs 0-145 (2) gs in Mar, 7 ran.
Harouet (FR) 9-1 (11-11) Chased leaders, pushed along 10th, outpaced when short of room approaching 4 out, stayed on to challenge after 2 out, kept on under pressure to lead post, won at Carlisle 3m hcp chs 0-135 (3) gd in Oct beating Lively Baron (11-9) by ns, 5 ran.
Isla Pearl Fisher 11-4 (10-12) Held up mid-division, lost place 8th, headway before last in 3rd, one pace and no impression, 2nd of 8, 12l behind Powerful Ambition (10-12) at Hexham 3m nov hdl (4) gs in Apr.
Herdsman (IRE) 10-1 (10-11) Mid-division, pushed along 8th, reminders after 9th, mistake 4 out, chased leader before 2 out, led run-in, kept on well, won at Bangor 3m nov hcp chs 0-125 (3) sft in Nov beating Tullyraine (11-2) by 3l, 7 ran.
Fiddlers Reel 8-1 (11-5) Tracked leaders, not fluent and reminder 12th, ridden after 4 out, weakened before 2 out, 3rd of 7, 29l behind Imperial Vic (10-12) at Perth 3m nov chs (4) gd in May.
Tutchec (FR) 4-1 (10-12) Made all, joined at the 8th, kept on well from last, won at Carlisle 2m 4f hcp chs 0-120 (4) hvy in Nov beating Ros Castle (11-11) by 4l, 8 ran.
Frank The Slink 16-1 (11-11) Held up towards rear, went 3rd 7 out, ridden before 4 out, left 2nd 2 out, no chance with winner, 2nd of 6, 14l behind Settledoutofcourt (10-11) at Newcastle 3m hcp chs 0-110 (4) gd in Nov.