tracked leader, led 4th to 10th, weakened next
towards rear, outpaced 4 out, rallied between last 2, stayed on strongly to go 2nd flat
in touch, lost place 6th, no danger after
towards rear, headway under pressure 4 out, no impression from next
mid-division, headway halfway to track leaders, every chance after 4 out, ridden and one pace from 2 out
in touch, pushed along 13th, soon lost place, tailed off when pulled up before last
led to 4th, led again 10th, headed 12th, weakening when blundered 3 out, pulled up before next
mid-division, headway and in touch halfway, ridden 5 out, outpaced after next
towards rear, struggling halfway, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out
towards rear, never dangerous
in touch, reminders 13th, ridden and one pace from 3 out
towards rear, hit 1st, struggling halfway, tailed off when pulled up after 13th
mid-division, weakened halfway, tailed off when pulled up before 13th
tracked leaders, led 12th, made rest, held on well towards finish
Hasper comes into this on the back of a good win in a hunter chase at Cartmel last month and, back in a handicap, he has to be respected but CATCH THE PERK showed improved for over course and distance last time when finding just All Rise too good and he gets the vote to go one better today with the main danger rated as Changing Lanes. Tim Vaughan's gelding has shown improved form over hurdles of late and carried that over to fence when making his debut over the larger obstacles when a good second in a novices' handicap at Uttoxeter earlier this month. He rates a bigger threat than James Lambe's Balakar, although he did show better form when a close fourth behind All Rise here at the beginning of the month. Peter Monteith's Snowy has shown better form of late with good seconds in two starts at Kelso proceeded by a decent success at Musselburgh and he has to be considered but preference is for Catch The Perk.
Tora Bora (GER) 9-1 (11-6) Led until approaching 2nd, pressed leader, mistake 8th, ridden after 10th, lost 2nd before 3 out, soon weakened, 10th of 15, 44l behind Simple Glory (10-3) at Aintree 3m hcp hdl 0-120 (3) gd.
Catch The Perk (IRE) 14-1 (11-9) Prominent, lost place 6th, outpaced 4 out, rallied approaching last, stayed on strongly flat, just failed, 2nd of 9, shd behind All Rise (9-9) at Hexham 3m 1f hcp chs 0-115 (4) gf.
Thunder Hawk (IRE) 9-4 (11-11) Led, hit 10th, headed 13th, weakened approaching 4 out, 6th of 7, well behind Hasper (11-9) at Cartmel 3m 2f hts chs (6) sft in May.
Benny The Piler (IRE) 17-2 (11-12) Held up towards rear, headway approaching 3 out, weakened next, 7th of 9, 16l behind All Rise (9-9) at Hexham 3m 1f hcp chs 0-115 (4) gf.
Changing Lanes 3-1fav (11-9) Held up, hit 3rd, headway approaching 8th, mistake 2 out, ridden and switched left flat, stayed on under pressure to take 2nd towards finish, 2nd of 8, 1 1/4l behind Keoghs Tradbar (11-2) at Uttoxeter 3m 5yo nov hcp (4) gf.
Snowy (IRE) 5-2fav (10-13) Prominent and led 7th, clear 12th, blundered next, ridden approaching last, challenged when drifted left flat, soon headed and no extra, 2nd of 7, 3/4l behind Justwhateverulike (10-10) at Kelso 3m 1f hcp chs 0-120 (3) gd in Apr.
Hilltop Charmer (IRE) 5-1 (11-7) Pr & disp, rdn disp 2out, not go with wnr, lost 2nd late, 3rd of 7, 6l behind Deskelly Interiors (11-7) at Ballingarry 3m ire ptp in May.
Cardington 8-1 (11-4) Chased leader until not fluent 4th, pushed along when jumped slowly next, weakened approaching 3 out, 5th of 7, 25l behind Monn Royal (11-4) at Worcester 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-100 (4) sft.
Waynesworld (IRE) 10-1 (10-12) Held up towards rear, pushed along when mistake 12th, behind when hit 13th, stayed on approaching last, went 4th towards finish, never any chance, 4th of 9, 16l behind Mister Apple's (11-12) at Uttoxeter 3m 2f hcp chs 0-115 (4) gf.
Balakar (IRE) 8-1 (11-2) In touch, headway and close up 4 out, effort next, soon outpaced, kept on one pace flat, 4th of 9, 2 3/4l behind All Rise (9-9) at Hexham 3m 1f hcp chs 0-115 (4) gf.
Hasper 14-1 (11-9) Held up, headway 13th, soon chasing leaders, ridden after last, led approaching final furlong, kept on well, won at Cartmel 3m 2f hts chs (6) sft in May beating Zabenz (11-5) by 5l, 7 ran.
Hows Trix (IRE) 25-1 (11-9) Always behind, 9th of 13, well behind Sam Cruise (10-3) at Sedgefield 3m 3f hcp chs 0-105 (4) gf.
Dad's Army (IRE) 17-2 (10-13) Mid-division, headway 10th, not fluent 15th, soon outpaced, no danger after, 8th of 20, 38l behind Lethem Present (10-2) at Hexham 3m 1f hcp chs 0-95 (5) gf in Jun '08.
Esme Rides A Gaine 11-1 (10-0) Towards rear, struggling 11th, never dangerous, 5th of 13, 31l behind Sam Cruise (10-3) at Sedgefield 3m 3f hcp chs 0-105 (4) gf.
