held up towards rear, headway before and hit 5 out, weakened from 3 out
led, headed before 2nd, led again before 11th, clear from 5 out, kept on under pressure from last, driven out
held up behind, weakened before 6 out
in touch, pushed along before 11th, soon weakened
with leader, led before 2nd, headed before 11th, reminders 12th, soon weakened
towards rear, headway before 5 out to chase leaders, went 3rd before 4 out, no extra from 2 out
mid-division, pushed along after 10th, struggling in rear, soon pulled up
tracked leaders in 3rd, chased winner from before 2 out until after last, kept on towards finish
mid-division, headway before 6 out, chased winner from after last, edged left run-in, kept on
held up mid-division, blundered 4th, chased leaders 11th, in 6th 4 out, soon weakened
Gibbstown won at Hexham last time but is upped in class off a higher mark for this. BASFORD BEN is another recent winner and he makes more appeal given he scored over course and distance with the re-opposing Armedanddangerous eight lengths back in third. Cross To Boston won a novices' handicap easily enough at Hexham but will find this tougher and The Orange Rogue looks a bigger threat on his earlier second at Newcastle. Towcester winner Nalim went close to defying an 8lb rise when third last time and is clearly still improving.
Gibbstown (IRE) 9-1 (11-5) Held up mid-division, headway 12th, led 4 out, clear before 2 out, kept on well, won at Hexham 3m 1f hcp chs 0-100 (5) gs in Mar beating Flaming Thistle (9-9) by 3 1/2l, 10 ran.
Basford Ben 9-2 (10-13) Led until after 1st, tracked leaders, close up 11th, ridden after 15th, jumped left and not fluent 2 out, hampered before last, stayed on to lead close home, won at Carlisle 3m 2f hcp ch 0-110 (4) sft in Mar beating Viking Rebel (9-13) by 1l, 9 ran.
The Orange Rogue (IRE) 11-8fav (10-3) Held up in touch, pushed along 5 out, went 3rd from 3 out, ridden before 2 out, no impression, 3rd of 5, 15l behind Plus Jamais (10-12) at Ayr 2m 4f nov hcp chs 0-120 (4) sft in Mar.
Acrai Rua (IRE) 20-1 (10-10) Led until 3rd, led 8th, headed 11th, mistake next, weakened 15th, pulled up before 2 out, in a race won by Barton Gift (11-0) at Bangor 3m 6f hcp chs 0-120 (4) sft in Feb, 10 ran.
Cross To Boston (IRE) 6-1 (10-4) Made all, clear before 13th, stayed on well from last, won at Hexham 3m 1f 5yo nov hcp (4) gs in Mar beating Harry The Lemmon (11-12) by 5l, 9 ran.
Oscar Lateen (IRE) 3-1fav (10-8) Tracked leaders, ridden 3 out, weakened before next, 6th of 12, 21l behind Douglas Julian (11-5) at Kelso 2m 5f hcp ch 0-110 (4) gs in Feb.
Winter Alchemy (IRE) 5-1 (11-0) Led until 2nd, led again 10th, mistake next, headed 5 out, soon outpaced, rallied 3 out, weakened next, 5th of 7, 23l behind Shady Sadie (9-11) at Musselburgh 3m hcp chs 0-105 (4) gd in Nov.
Armedanddangerous (IRE) 4-1fav (10-7) Held up towards rear, headway before 5th, ridden after 10th, lost place 12th, behind 15th, stayed on from 2 out, went 3rd flat, 3rd of 9, 8l behind Basford Ben (10-13) at Carlisle 3m 2f hcp ch 0-110 (4) sft in Mar.
Nalim (IRE) 9-2 (10-6) Mid-division, lost place and towards rear 6th, headway under pressure on outside before 3 out, chased leaders next, ridden after last, stayed on to challenge and every chance final 110 yards, held near finish, 3rd of 12, 3/4l behind Flaming Thistle (9-9) at Hexham 3m 1f hcp chs 0-100 (5) gs in Mar.
Trouble In Paris (IRE) 14-1 (10-1) Held up mid-division, close up 8th, reminders before 10th, reminders before 12th, weakened from 4 out, 7th of 10, well behind Gibbstown (11-5) at Hexham 3m 1f hcp chs 0-100 (5) gs in Mar.
