held up in 5th until not fluent 8th, not fluent 9th, weakened 3 out, tailed off
prominent, not fluent 3 out, soon ridden, chased winner after last until before bend entering home straight, soon weakened
in rear, very deliberate 2nd and given reminders, not that fluent after, driven before 9th, lost touch after 10th, tailed off when fell last
held up in rear, hit 9th, went 5th 2 out, went 3rd after last, closed to chase winner before bend entering home straight, no impression
chased leaders, jumped slowly 10th, soon ridden, outpaced 3 out, no impression after
with leader, led 9th, not fluent 4 out, headed last, weakened before bend entering home straight
held up in rear, went 5th 8th, close 4th 10th, went 2nd 3 out, led last, stayed on well
led until 9th, stayed close up until last, weakened flat
Nonrunner
Favourites have an excellent record in this race, with either the joint or outright market leader having won all the last four runnings, and this can go the same way, with STORM SURGE selected to get the better of Peak Seasons and Corporation. The selection is 2lbs higher than when scoring at Wetherby recently over two miles on good going. He is unproven on both faster ground and over this longer trip, but with plenty of stamina in his pedigree it is likely that he will relish this extra three-quarters-of-a-mile and we give him the nod. Peak Seasons has a firm ground win to his name and went well in these conditions when runner-up over a similar trip at Fakenham earlier in the month. He is 4lbs higher now but has a feather weight to shoulder and is respected. Corporation represents a stable that does well on its raids at the track and he has made the frame twice here over hurdles. He goes on a sound surface and improvement on his recent efforts would be no surprise. Reasonably Sure has conditions to suit and represents a stable going well enough, so he could have a say, but Storm Surge gets the vote.
Corporation (IRE) 14-1 (11-7) Mid-division, reminders 4th, improved into 3rd halfway, ridden and lost touch after 4 out, soon no extra, 6th of 15, 44l behind Speedy Max (11-5) at Downpatrick 2m 7f beg chase gf.
Storm Surge (IRE) 10-3 (10-9) Tracked leader, led after 9th, blundered 4 out, ridden and hard pressed after next, headed narrowly flat, rallied towards finish to regain lead post, won at Wetherby 2m hcp chs 0-115 (4) gd beating The Kealshore Kid (10-9) by shd, 7 ran.
Winged Farasi 18-1 (11-7) Held up mid-division, headway 10th, chased leaders approaching 3 out, ridden approaching 2 out, about 10 lengths down in 2nd and staying on when fell last, in a race won by Persian Prince (10-5) at Sedgefield 2m 4f hcp chs 0-100 (4) gf, 9 ran.
Emotive 8-1 (10-9) Held up towards rear, headway 5 out, ridden approaching 3 out, no impression, 4th of 9, 8l behind Solway Bay (11-1) at Perth 3m nov hcp chs 0-115 (4) gf.
Sycho Fred (IRE) 11-1 (10-0) Held up mid-division, in rear and pushed along from 10th, kept on from last, kept on, 4th of 9, 28l behind Roseneath (11-1) at Huntingdon 3m hcp ch 0-110 (4) gs.
Peak Seasons (IRE) 12-1 (10-0) Behind when jumped big and rider lost iron 3rd, in touch next, lost place when mistake 8th, headway to chase winner after 3 out, stayed under pressure flat, always held, 2nd of 10, 1l behind Mattaking (11-12) at Fakenham 2m 5f hcp chs 0-90 (5) gf.
Shulmin 7-1 (10-0) Mid-division, headway to chase leading pair 4 out, ridden and stayed on to go 2nd between last 2, kept on, no impression with winner, 2nd of 12, 6l behind Finbin (11-4) at Hexham 3m 1f hcp chs 0-95 (5) gs.
Crofton Arch 14-1 (10-5) Chased leader, led briefly 2 out, kept on same pace, lost 3rd place towards finish, 4th of 10, 10l behind Schinken Otto (11-6) at Sedgefield 2m hcp chs 0-90 (5) gf.
Native Coll 12-1 (9-11) Led, headed 2 out, soon weakened, 4th of 13, 10l behind Et Maintenant (11-12) at Carlisle 2m hcp chs 0-115 (4) hvy in Apr.
Reasonably Sure (IRE) 11-1 (10-6) Chased leaders,ridden and weakened after 2 out, 7th of 14, 31l behind Lindseyfield Lodge (10-13) at Kelso 2m 6f sll hcp chs 0-95 (5) gd.
