held up towards rear, headway 6 out, ridden run-in, kept on to lead last 75 yards
held up towards rear, chased leaders 7th, led 5 out, headed before last, still every chance until held near finish
tracked leaders, led before 13th, headed 5 out, weakened 2 out
held up in touch, chased leaders 4 out, led before last, headed last 75 yards, weakened towards finish
in rear, headway before 5 out, ridden before 2 out, went 4th before last, kept on towards finish
tracked leaders, towards rear before 11th, soon tailed off, pulled up before 4 out
with leader, weakened before 6 out
led, headed before 13th, ridden and weakened before 3 out
Special Portrait won narrowly at Sedgefield earlier this month but was pulled up in this last year and BEGGAR'S VELVET is rated 11lb higher under Rules. The nine-year-old has won two of his last three between the flags and is better than he showed at Musselburgh in February. Ganbei hails from a successful point-to-point yard and will get every assistance from the saddle but he only beat two rivals at Staintondale two weeks ago and would need more here. For A Finish may be the pick of the remainder.
Beggar's Velvet (IRE) Evens (11-0) (cp) hdwy 13; led 3 out; ro wl, won at College Valley & North Northumbe 3m ptp gd in Mar beating Keeverfield (11-0) by 2 1/2l, 8 ran.
Special Portrait (IRE) 2-1fav (11-7) Tracked leaders, pushed along after 13th, outpaced 16th, rallied 3 out, went 2nd when jumped left last, stayed on to lead close home, won at Sedgefield 3m 3f hts chs (6) gs beating Pyjama Game (11-7) by hd, 8 ran.
Code Blue 25-1 (11-11) In touch from 3rd, ridden after 3 out, weakened before next, pulled up approaching last, in a race won by Special Portrait (11-7) at Sedgefield 3m 3f hts chs (6) gs, 8 ran.
For A Finish 8-1 (12-0) Nvr on terms, 4th of 5, 19l behind Opera Og (12-0) at Staintondale 3m ptp gd.
Ganbei 8-11 (12-0) Ap; led 4 out; comf, won at Staintondale 3m ptp gd beating Kings Lodge (12-0) by 6l, 3 ran.
Kildare Blowin (IRE) 25-1 (11-5) Held up in rear, mistake 2nd, blundered 5th, jumped right and behind 7th, pulled up before 10th, in a race won by Another Dark Rum (11-5) at Sedgefield 2m 4f nov hts chs (6) gs, 11 ran.
Tommysteel (IRE) 33-1 (11-7) Tracked leader until 2nd, stayed handy, lost place 13th, well beaten 3 out, pulled up before next, in a race won by Special Portrait (11-7) at Sedgefield 3m 3f hts chs (6) gs, 8 ran.
War On (IRE) 33-1 (10-7) Mid-division, struggling 10th, tailed off 13th, pulled up before 2 out, in a race won by My Friend George (10-6) at Sedgefield 2m 4f hcp chs 0-100 (5) gs, 13 ran.
