jumped right at times, led, clear until 6th, ridden approaching last, headed flat, stayed on same pace
chased leaders, jumped slowly 4th, not fluent and lost place 5 out, jumped slowly and well held 2 out, tailed off
held up in rear, slightly hampered 1st, hampered and unseated rider next
held up, hit 3rd, headway 14th, outpaced before 3 out, went 3rd flat, no chance with leading pair
towards rear, jumped slowly 4th, headway 13th, lost place next, well beaten from 4 out, pulled up before last
held up, jumped slowly 1st, brought down next
held up, 11 lengths 5th when not fluent 4 out, soon outpaced by leaders, went 4th towards finish, no impression
chased leader, not fluent 2nd, closed 6th, led flat, idled, ridden out
chased leaders, 7 lengths 3rd and outpaced from 2 out, no extra and lost places flat
Nonrunner
A decent hunter chase with PALOS CONTI taken to follow up a very smooth success at Sedgefield last time from Special Portrait, defying an absence of over two years in the process. Hunters tend not to bounce in the same way as many performers and a repeat of that latest effort will make him hard to beat here. Highland Cathedral rates the likeliest threat - generally consistent over Regulation fences and the best of his form certainly places him firmly on the shortlist. He gets on really well with his regular pilot and is very much at home on good ground. Three or four of the others have been in winning form between the flags, of which Ngong Hills and Ocarina make most appeal.
Harry Flashman 8-1 (12-5) Prom til wknd aft 15; pu 2 out, in a race won by Buckstruther (12-5) at Morpeth 3m ptp gd, 8 ran.
Highland Cathedral 2-1fav (11-11) Towards rear, mistake 10th, headway under pressure after 4 out, 4th and no impression when blundered and unseated rider 2 out, in a race won by Tartan Snow (11-11) at Kelso 2m 7f hts chs (6) sft in Mar, 8 ran.
Palos Conti (FR) 9-1 (11-11) Held up in rear, headway 13th on outer to chase leaders, led 7 out, clear before last, won at Sedgefield 3m 3f hts chs (6) gs beating Special Portrait (12-1) by 6l, 7 ran.
Playing The Field (IRE) 7-2 (11-0) Hdwy 13; stayed on wl 3 out; nt rch wnr, 2nd of 8, 5l behind Impact Zone (11-0) at Bedale 3m ptp gd.
Supreme Plan (IRE) Evens (12-7) Went 2nd 8; led last; stayed on wl, won at South Notts 3m ptp gd beating The Luder (12-7) by 3l, 4 ran.
Granaruid (IRE) 12-1 (12-7) (cp) hdwy 12; ev ch 2 out; kpt on flat, 3rd of 9, 1l behind Putitawayforayear (12-5) at Morpeth 3m ptp gd.
Ngong Hills (FR) 1-3 (12-0) Ww; hdwy 3 out; led last; pushed out, won at Staintondale 3m ptp gf beating Deuteronomy (12-0) by nk, 5 ran.
Ocarina (FR) 4-6 (12-9) (cp) ap; went 2nd 3 out; wknd app last, 2nd of 6, 8l behind Silk And Roses (11-7) at Cumberland Farmers 3m ptp gd.
Putitawayforayear (IRE) 9-4 (12-5) Led 2-3; led 15; just held on, won at Morpeth 3m ptp gd beating Twelve Paces (12-0) by hd, 9 ran.
Senor Alco (FR) 7-2 (12-6) Ap; ev ch 15; one pce, 2nd of 8, 5l behind Ocarina (12-6) at Lanarkshire & Renfrewshire and E 3m ptp gd in Mar.
Tiger Billy (IRE) 7-1 (11-0) (bl) hdwy 8; outpcd 15, 3rd of 7, 13l behind Newyearsresolution (11-0) at Morpeth 3m ptp gd.
