led, not fluent 5th, weakened before 10th, tailed off when pulled up after 4 out
close up, weakened from 3 out
towards rear, headway from 9th, led 10th, clear after 2 out, stayed on strongly
tracked leaders, weakened before 5 out
towards rear, pushed along before 8th, weakened before 5 out
towards rear, headway before 5 out, went 2nd before 3 out, weakened before 2 out
mid-division, chased leaders 9th, chased winner 5 out, blundered 3 out, no impression from 2 out
towards rear, outpaced 5 out, plugged on from 3 out
mid-division, ridden before 4 out in 4th, no impression from 3 out
in touch in 4th, with leader 8th, led before 10th, soon headed, rallied 2 out, kept on one pace
A reappearance third at Musselburgh will have blown any cobwebs away and Donald McCain's veteran CLOUDY LANE can take this if running anywhere near the form of last year's victory in the Fox Hunter's at Aintree. Cottage Oak had won a couple of point-to-points before scoring at Kelso last month with Benefit Night and Special Portrait behind but Current Exchange has more scope and won one of these events at Market Rasen earlier this month. Mister Teddy has claims on his second at Towcester but that was over a year ago and Bangor winner Classinaglass makes more appeal with a recent victory between the flags to his credit.
Benefit Night (IRE) 8-1 (11-11) Led to 6th, led again after 8th, headed before 4 out, ridden before 3 out, one pace from last, 2nd of 7, 13l behind Palypso De Creek (11-3) at Wetherby 3m 1f hts chs (6) sft.
Cloudy Lane 10-11fav (12-6) Tracked leaders, not fluent 12th, soon ridden and went 2nd, no chance with winner from 4 out, battled for 2nd thereafter, one pace, 3rd of 7, 23l behind Creevytennant (11-9) at Musselburgh 2m 4f hts chs (3) gs.
Cottage Oak (IRE) 11-4 (11-13) Tracked leaders, challenged 4 out, led next, in command when blundered and left clear last, eased inside final 100 yards, shaken up close home, won at Kelso 2m 7f hts chs (6) hvy in Jan beating Sacred Mountain (11-9) by 4l, 11 ran.
Nicto De Beauchene (FR) 7-1 (12-6) Led until blundered and rider lost irons briefly 5th, in touch after, outpaced 12th, well beaten 4 out, pulled up after, in a race won by Kirkleigh (11-9) at Wincanton 3m 1f hts chs (6) hvy in Jan, 14 ran.
Special Portrait (IRE) 9-2 (12-1) Held up towards rear, chased leaders before 9th, pushed along before 5 out, outpaced next, kept on to take 3rd last, 3rd of 7, 13l behind Palypso De Creek (11-3) at Wetherby 3m 1f hts chs (6) sft.
Classinaglass 4-7 (12-5) Ww; hdwy 3 out; led last; ro wl, won at Yorkshire Point-to-Point Club 3m ptp gs in Jan beating Hennessy (12-5) by 1l, 7 ran.
Current Exchange (IRE) 7-4 (12-0) In touch in main group, went 2nd 11th, led next, ridden and pressed 3 out, stayed on to draw clear final 150 yards, won at Market Rasen 3m 1f hts chs (6) sft beating French Canadian (11-11) by 4 1/2l, 7 ran.
Idole First (IRE) 33-1 (11-5) Mistakes, always behind, pulled up before 4 out, in a race won by Kirkleigh (11-9) at Wincanton 3m 1f hts chs (6) hvy in Jan, 14 ran.
Mister Teddy 9-2 (11-7) Mid-division, mistake 9th, headway approaching 3 out, went 2nd before last, stayed on, just held, 2nd of 17, 1/2l behind Lorikarad (11-9) at Towcester 2m 6f hts chs (6) sft in Jan '12.
Vic Venturi (IRE) 5-1fav (11-12) Tracked leaders, ridden before 3 out, weakened approaching next, 6th of 14, 24l behind Kirkleigh (11-9) at Wincanton 3m 1f hts chs (6) hvy in Jan.
