held up, headway when hit 6th, ridden 3 out, weakening when hit 2 out
in rear, ridden and headway 2 out, hung left and stayed on flat
tracked leaders until ridden before 3 out
in touch, tracked leaders 7th, ridden 3 out, kept on same pace
led, ridden and headed 7th, prominent, weakened quickly before 3 out
in touch, went prominent 4th, ridden and every chance 3 out, kept on one pace
in rear, headway 4 out, weakened 2 out
prominent until 3rd, soon towards rear, ridden 5th, behind next
prominent, led 7th, hit 2 out, ridden and stayed on flat
Nonrunner
Phoenix Returns has a fitness advantage having won at Hexham last month but is 7lb higher and upped in class for this. HIT THE TOP makes more appeal with a recent outing over fences under his belt given he ran well for fourth over timber at Ayr earlier this year and can race off the same mark. Tap Night also returns to hurdling and Lucinda Russell has a good record in this contest while Alaivan is not badly treated back in a handicap and could figure.
Tap Night (USA) 16-1 (10-10) Always towards rear, no impression and trailing when slight mistake 4 out, 16th of 18, 42l behind Your Busy (9-12) at Listowel 3m hcap ch gd in Sep.
Flicka Williams (IRE) 16-1 (11-11) Held up in rear, went right 5th, tailed off when pulled up approaching 3 out, in a race won by Upswing (11-1) at Newbury 3m hcp hdl 0-145 (2) hvy in Feb, 10 ran.
Yesyoucan (IRE) 66-1 (11-1) Always behind, 18th of 22, well behind Clondaw Kaempfer (11-4) at Aintree 2m 4f hcp hdl Grade 3 (1) gs in Apr.
Hit The Top (IRE) 9-1 (11-2) Tracked leader, joined 8th, ridden 3 out, weakened final furlong, 4th of 5, 23l behind Duke Of Navan (11-2) at Carlisle 2m beg chs (4) sft in Oct.
Waldorf Salad 9-1 (11-3) Tracked leaders, not fluent 6th, challenged 8th, ridden and lost place next, soon weakened, pulled up before 3 out, in a race won by Ulzana's Raid (11-6) at Ayr 3m nov hcp hdl 0-135 (3) gs in Apr, 8 ran.
Phoenix Returns (IRE) 9-4fav (11-9) With leader, jumped well throughout, every chance 2 out, led before last, soon challenged, kept on well under pressure, won at Hexham 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-130 (3) gd in Oct beating Bell Weir (11-12) by 2 1/4l, 6 ran.
Bell Weir 4-1 (11-9) Held up towards rear, effort 2 out, weakened before last, last of 9, 23l behind Bless The Wings (11-12) at Hexham 3m hcp hdl 0-125 (3) gs in Oct.
Granaruid (IRE) 9-1 (11-4) Tracked leaders, ridden 5th, dropped to rear next, 8th of 11, 31l behind Captain Clayton (10-11) at Carlisle 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-125 (3) sft in Oct.
One For Harry (IRE) 5-1 (10-12) Tracked leader, led 5th, headed 2 out, not fluent last, no impression on winner flat, stayed on same pace, 2nd of 7, 3 1/2l behind Titus Bolt (10-9) at Perth 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-140 (3) sft in Apr.
Alaivan (IRE) 12-1 (10-8) Held up in touch, effort 3 out, ridden and one pace before last, no impression, 6th of 22, 17l behind Clondaw Kaempfer (11-4) at Aintree 2m 4f hcp hdl Grade 3 (1) gs in Apr.
