always towards rear
in rear, headway before 3 out to chase leaders, in 3rd and looking one pace when blundered 3 out, no impression
chased leaders, blundered 3rd, soon lost place, tailed off and pulled up
made all, ridden run-in, kept on well
mid-division, weakened before 5 out, soon eased, tailed off when pulled up before 5 out
chased leaders, ridden and one pace before 2 out
behind, mistake 5th, headway before 3 out, soon challenged on bit, ridden and not quicken run-in
chased leaders, reminder before 6th, one pace from 2 out
with leader, pushed along before 3 out, soon weakened
towards rear, reminder after 3rd, weakened before 6th, tailed off when fell 4 out
This looks the weaker of the two divisions and is a good opportunity for CRUACHAN to recapture the winning thread. He scored at Hexham in June and was third off today's mark at the same course last time. Moufatango only won a seller at Hexham earlier this month but this isn't much better and he should be thereabouts again. Auberge is probably better over further but this stiff track will play to his strengths and he can't be ignored. Pete, however, isn't very reliable and high enough in the weights at present.
Billy Cuckoo (IRE) 14-1 (11-3) Behind, pushed along from 6th, struggling when mistake next, lost touch and pulled up after 8th, in a race won by Dun Masc (10-8) at Newcastle 3m hcp chs 0-125 (3) gs in Apr, 8 ran.
Cruachan (IRE) 11-1 (11-8) Held up towards rear, headway 3 out, went 3rd from 2 out, one pace, 3rd of 12, 7l behind Frontier Vic (10-0) at Perth 2m 4f nov hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gs in Sep.
Harris (IRE) 4-1 (10-13) In touch in 4th, pushed along 5th, blundered 7th, headway before 8th, weakened after 4 out, pulled up soon after, in a race won by Willoughby Hedge (10-13) at Wetherby 3m 1f nh nov hdl (4) gs in May, 6 ran.
Moufatango (FR) 9-2 (11-0) Made all, always travelling well, quickened before last, ran on strongly, won at Hexham 2m 4f sell hdl (5) gs beating Spiekeroog (11-5) by 13l, 6 ran.
Markem (IRE) 25-1 (11-0) Mid-division, pushed along before 3 out, ridden before 2 out, one pace, 5th of 8, 19l behind Standintheband (11-0) at Perth 2m 4f mdn hdl (4) gs in Apr.
Auberge (IRE) 9-1 (10-8) Led, driven 3 out, headed approaching next, no impression with front pair before last, lost 3rd flat, 4th of 12, 11l behind Flicka Williams (11-3) at Uttoxeter 3m hcp hdl 0-120 (4) gd.
Pete 9-1 (11-3) Held up in touch, not fluent 4th, every chance when not fluent 4 out, no extra last, 4th of 12, 16l behind Tribal Dance (10-4) at Bangor 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-100 (5) gd in Sep.
Blue Kascade (IRE) 4-1 (11-9) Always towards rear, 7th of 10, 22l behind Honourable Gent (10-6) at Kelso 2m 2f nov hcp hdl 0-95 (5) gd.
Bold Slasher (IRE) 80-1 (11-1) Always off the pace towards rear, ridden and struggling before 6th, soon tailed off, 6th of 11, 50l behind Annacotty (11-5) at Haydock 2m 4f nh nov hdl (4) gs in Mar.
Newdane Dancer (IRE) 16-1 (10-0) Towards rear, mistake 8th, well beaten 3 out, 6th of 11, 25l behind Streams Of Whiskey (11-12) at Hexham 2m 4f nov hcp chs 0-110 (4) gd.
