chased leaders, lost place 4th, back in touch 8th, ridden after 3 out, weakened approaching last
held up towards rear, not fluent 2nd, ridden after 9th, headway next, not fluent 11th, outpaced and not fluent 4 out, rallied approaching last, stayed on well flat to take 2nd post
in rear, jumped slolwly 3rd, behind 5th, pulled up before 9th
chased leaders, bad mistake 8th, 6th when pulled up before 4 out
mid-division, jumped slowly 4th, mistake 8th, struggling from 10th, tailed off
in rear, ridden and struggling after 9th, never dangerous
soon in touch, ridden after 3 out, stayed on under pressure approaching last, chased winner towards finish until post
led, not fluent 2nd, headed after 8th, raced in 2nd after, driven to lead flat, stayed on
chased leader, reminder after 6th, led after 8th, jumped right and mistake 4 out, headed flat, no extra towards finish
Nonrunner
Ginger's Lad is bound to be popular with backers following his win at Sedgefield last month but he is better on faster ground than he is going to have here and a better bet looks to be HASPER, who gets the verdict ahead of Dallas Bell. The last mentioned should appreciate the return to a softer surface having disappointed on fast ground when pulled up at Perth last month and he has claims having won a beginners' chase here well the time before. Clueless ran better at Sedgefield last time but remains a maiden under National Hunt rules, while Flaming Heck is hard to recommend on recent form. Sue Smith's Mischief Man has yet to reproduce hurdles form over fences but has run some promising races in defeat and was not disgraced on ground faster than ideal at Sedgefield last time so he has to be considered but preference is for Hasper. The 12-year-old has not had a great deal of racing and the dual hunter chase winner has been running well in handicaps of late being narrowly beaten by Finbin in his last two outings; he can go one better than on his most recent start and open his account in a handicap today.
Dallas Bell 15-2 (11-1) Chased leaders, ridden approaching 14th, weakened 5 out, tailed off when pulled up before next, in a race won by Solway Bay (11-1) at Perth 3m nov hcp chs 0-115 (4) gf in May, 9 ran.
Hasper 9-2 (10-13) Chased leaders, hampered when left in lead 5th, headed 13th, pressed winner 16th, effort 4 out, soon under pressure, stayed on approaching last, no chance with winner, 2nd of 5, 2 1/2l behind Finbin (11-9) at Sedgefield 3m 3f hcp chs 0-105 (4) gf in May.
Flaming Heck 16-1 (11-1) Tracked leaders, blundered 2nd, lost place 5th, soon reminders, tailed off 8th, 7th of 9, well behind Crofton Arch (10-0) at Cartmel 2m 1f hcp chs 0-95 (5) gd.
Mischief Man 9-2 (11-6) Tracked leaders, reminders after 8th, ridden approaching 2 out, one pace, 5th of 10, 13l behind Schinken Otto (11-6) at Sedgefield 2m hcp chs 0-90 (5) gf in May.
Clueless 33-1 (10-11) Mid-division, headway approaching 8th, chased leaders 10th, effort 3 out, stayed on same pace approaching last, 4th of 11, 2 1/4l behind Ginger's Lad (10-6) at Sedgefield 2m 4f nov hcp chs 0-95 (5) gf in May.
Panthers Run 40-1 (10-10) Held up towards rear, weakened from 2 out, tailed off when pulled up before last, in a race won by Fair Spin (10-4) at Hexham 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-90 (5) gf in May, 12 ran.
Ginger's Lad 9-2 (10-6) Mid-division, headway approaching 8th, chased leaders 10th, soon every chance, led after 2 out, not fluent when headed last, rallied under pressure to lead again close home, won at Sedgefield 2m 4f nov hcp chs 0-95 (5) gf in May beating Pugnacity (9-13) by 1/2l, 11 ran.
Tully Hill 16-1 (9-12) With leader, led 4th to 9th, soon lost place and behind, tailed off when pulled up before last, in a race won by Baltic Pathfinder (11-6) at Hexham 2m 4f hcp chs 0-105 (4) gd in May, 15 ran.
The Green Hat (IRE) 12-1 (10-5) Led to 7th, pushed along 9th, hit next and lost place, ridden and weakened 12th, 4th of 5, 40l behind Baily Storm (11-5) at Hexham 2m 4f nov chs (4) gf.
Star of Raven 4-1 (11-7) Held up; hdwy 8; drvn 12; wknd app 3 out; pu nxt, in a race won by Keeverfield (12-0) at Whittington 3m ptp gd in Apr, 5 ran.
