mid-division, headway halfway and in touch, weakened approaching 4 out
in touch, mistake 6th, weakened approaching 4 out
led to 5th, remained prominent until outpaced 13th
chased leaders, went 2nd 12th until no extra flat
chased leaders, struggling halfway
towards rear, never dangerous
prominent, led 5th, made rest, clear from 3 out
in touch, mistake and unseated rider 12th
in touch to 14th, soon beaten
held up in rear, headway 13th and in touch, ridden 4 out, weakening when mistake next
towards rear, never dangerous
towards rear, headway 5 out, outpaced next, rallied between last 2, stayed on to chase winner flat
There are many in with chances in this handicap chase and it could pay to seek a bit of value and side with CARRYDUFF; the list of dangers is headed by Player, Darina's Boy and Overlady. The selection is not the most reliable, highlighted by his failure to complete on four of his last six starts. However, he is a very capable performer on his day and he would have a leading chance if he could reproduce the form he showed when beating Acertack at Towcester. Player won well at Catterick but he then failed to get past the first fence at Newcastle last time. Darina's Boy looked the most likely winner at Newcastle last time when he travelled like a dream but then faded tamely. It will be interesting to see if he can bounce back to form today. Overlady is unexposed but she is probably better over further. With all this in mind we will stick with Carryduff as the value call.
Silly Wupple 20-1 (10-11) Held up towards rear, jumped right 1st, headway to chase leaders 12th, weakened after 14th, 4th of 9, 30l behind Nicto De Beauchene (10-10) at Uttoxeter 3m nov hcp chs (3) sft in Mar.
Player (FR) 3-1fav (11-12) Mid-division, fell 1st, in a race won by Shelomoh (11-1) at Newcastle 2m 5yo nov hcp (4) hvy in Jan, 10 ran.
Catch The Perk (IRE) 12-1 (11-9) Chased leaders, effort 2 out, weakened approaching last, 5th of 12, 14l behind King Barry (11-8) at Kelso 3m 1f hcp chs 0-115 (4) sft in Nov.
Overlady 5-2 (11-7) Tracked leaders, outpaced 2 out, ridden last, stayed on same pace flat, 5th of 6, 5l behind Bellaney Jewel (11-12) at Hexham 4m hcp ch 0-110 (4) sft in Mar.
Crackadee 13-2 (10-6) Held up in touch, tracked leader halfway, ridden 15th, beaten from 2 out, 4th of 5, 16l behind Bold Ransom (11-3) at Kelso 3m 1f hcp chs 0-135 (3) gd in Mar.
Carryduff 6-1 (11-5) Held up in rear, raced keenly, mistakes 3rd and 5th, not fluent 11th, struggling 13th, tailed off and pulled up before 4 out, in a race won by Superrollercoaster (10-6) at Towcester 3m hcp ch 0-110 (4) gd in Mar, 10 ran.
Darina's Boy 7-2 (11-5) Led, blundered and headed 5th, lost place 8th, rallied to chase leader 11th, lost place 3 out, soon weakened, 3rd of 8, 10l behind Jorveybrook (10-8) at Newcastle 3m hcp ch 0-110 (4) gd in Mar.
Saddler's Way (IRE) 10-3 (11-0) Tracked leader, challenged 5 out, ridden 3 out, led after next, left 3 lengths clear last, stayed on well, won at Ayr 3m 1f beg chase (5) sft in Mar beating Mat Hill (10-11) by 9l, 4 ran.
South Bronx (IRE) 12-1 (11-0) Prominent, lost place halfway, tailed off, 6th of 8, 49l behind Johnny Roche (11-4) at Musselburgh 2m 4f hcp ch 0-110 (4) gf in Mar.
Stoneriggs Merc (IRE) 5-1 (11-1) Mid-division, outpaced between last 2, weakened last, 9th of 11, well behind Kings Guard (11-3) at Hexham 3m hcp hdl 0-95 (5) sft in Mar.
Emerald Destiny (IRE) 14-1 (12-4) Led to 8th, soon lost place, weakened 4 out, 10th of 11, 46l behind Nouveau Maire (11-7) at Sedgefield 2m 4f hts chs (6) gd in Mar.
Korelo (FR) 14-1 (9-8) Tracked leaders, outpaced 4 out, ridden 2 out, stayed on under pressure approaching last, 4th of 6, 3 1/2l behind Bellaney Jewel (11-12) at Hexham 4m hcp ch 0-110 (4) sft in Mar.