chased leaders, pushed along from halfway, stayed on under pressure from 2 out, never a threat
mid-division, headway 2 out, stayed on well after last, never on terms
held up in rear, headway to chase leaders 4 out, hung right under pressure before 2 out, soon weakened
led until 8th, led again 2 out, stayed on strongly
took keen hold tracking leaders, effort after 3 out, weakening when mistake next, tailed off
always in rear, pulled up before 2 out
held up in rear, weakened 4 out, pulled up 2 out
always towards rear
mid-division, headway 3 out, soon weakened, pulled up before last
mid-division, hit 4th, headway before 2 out, kept on under pressure, never on terms
tracked leaders, lost place 3 out, pulled up next
tracked leaders, weakened 4 out
with leader, led 8th, headed 2 out, weakened last
PURPLE HARRY has really found his form since stepping up to this trip and though raised 8lb for his all-the-way Newcastle victory his rider claims 5lb back and a double looks on the cards. Asuncion has only shown moderate form since arriving from France but is still only five and can probably improve. Around A Pound hasn't won for two years but continues to drop down the weights and it should be his turn again soon. See The Legend has only won once in 22 starts over hurdles and connections won't be pleased to see him raised 4lb after finishing runner-up last time. My Friend George won over fences at Sedgefield and has to be respected, despite being 7lb higher over timber.
Purple Harry 2-1fav (11-7) Raced wide, made all, veered left approaching 3 out, soon ridden and tended to hang left, hard pressed next, stayed on under pressure from last, won at Newcastle 3m cnd nov hcp hdl (5) gs in Mar beating Conjola (11-4) by 2 3/4l, 14 ran.
Isaacstown Lad (IRE) 16-1 (10-8) Tracked leaders, went 2nd 4th, led after 6th, headed before mistake 7th, one pace from 3 out, 4th of 7, 18l behind Top Billing (11-12) at Ayr 3m hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gs in Nov.
Willie Hall 7-1 (10-9) Mid-division, chased leaders when blundered 4 out, soon outpaced, weakened before 2 out, tailed off when pulled up before last, in a race won by Flaming Thistle (9-9) at Hexham 3m 1f hcp chs 0-100 (5) gs in Mar, 12 ran.
Courtown Oscar (IRE) 7-1 (10-5) Held up in touch in rear, pushed along in last after 4th, behind 6th, 7th of 8, well behind Cowslip (10-3) at Carlisle 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) sft in Mar.
Quintano (GER) 40-1 (11-3) Chased leaders, mistake and lost place 8th, well behind from next, pulled up before 2 out, in a race won by Tisfreetdream (10-2) at Southwell 3m hcp hdl 0-100 (5) sft in Feb, 14 ran.
Harleys Max 80-1 (10-13) Held up in rear, headway and in touch 8th, chased leaders 3 out, no chance from next, 5th of 14, 29l behind Purple Harry (11-7) at Newcastle 3m cnd nov hcp hdl (5) gs in Mar.
Heez A Steel (IRE) 12-1 (10-9) Tracked leaders, outpaced before 6th, weakened from 3 out, 5th of 9, 30l behind Scarlet Fire (11-5) at Carlisle 3m 2f hcp chs 0-105 (4) sft.
Around A Pound (IRE) 10-1 (10-10) Held up, ridden after 11th, outpaced and struggling before next, plugged on before 2 out, soon went 2nd, no chance with winner, lost 2nd flat, 3rd of 7, 23l behind Tribal Dance (10-6) at Warwick 3m 5yo nov hcp (4) sft in Mar.
See The Legend 16-1 (9-13) Tracked leaders, challenged after 4 out, led next, ridden between last 2, headed flat, kept on, 2nd of 17, 1/2l behind Northern Acres (11-0) at Newcastle 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-100 (5) gs in Mar.
Native Optimist (IRE) 20-1 (10-11) Mid-division, otupaced 4 out, never on terms, weakened 2 out, 6th of 14, 36l behind Purple Harry (11-7) at Newcastle 3m cnd nov hcp hdl (5) gs in Mar.
Prince Blackthorn (IRE) 15-2 (10-2) Tracked leaders in 3rd, blundered 6th, soon in rear, tailed off, 4th of 5, well behind Classinaglass (11-7) at Catterick 2m 3f hcp ch 0-110 (4) gs in Mar.
Macgillycuddy 7-1 (10-11) Chased leaders, outpaced before 3 out, never on terms, weakened next, 9th of 14, well behind Purple Harry (11-7) at Newcastle 3m cnd nov hcp hdl (5) gs in Mar.
My Friend George 2-1fav (10-6) Always prominent, led before 10th, steadied into last, stayed on well, won at Sedgefield 2m 4f hcp chs 0-100 (5) gs beating Roxyfet (11-12) by 4l, 13 ran.
Asuncion (FR) 5-1 (10-9) Held up in touch, took keen hold, ridden and weakened from before 4 out, pulled up before 3 out, in a race won by Spring Over (10-7) at Ayr 3m mares mdn hdl (5) sft in Jan, 6 ran.
