close up, led before 11th, headed 13th, chased winner, no impression
in rear, headway before 17th, ridden after 2 out, soon went remote 3rd, weakened
tracked leaders, led 13th, soon clear, easily
in touch, pushed along before 14th, one pace before 3 out
held up mid-division, weakened from 4 out, pulled up 3 out
close up, pushed along and lost place before 13th, pulled up before last
always behind, pulled up before 4 out
always towards rear, pulled up before last
held up towards rear, headway before 3 out, went 5th before last, no impression
led, soon clear, took keen hold, headed before 11th, soon weakened, pulled up before 13th
Nonrunner
Finbin held off Cillaseal, who probably got going too late, over C&D earlier this month but Noel Kelly's seven-year-old is 3lb better off and could easily turn the tables if racing closer to the pace. The equation is complicated, however, by TREEHOUSE who was still in touch and apparently travelling well when falling three out in that race. The latter's jumping can be a little erratic but he has a good record here when completing and can come out on top today. Shulmin may be on the downgrade but Maple Valley Guide has claims on her best form and has won on heavy ground between the flags. Hathamore's Cartmel win may not be good enough for this however.
Copper's Gold (IRE) 9-4fav (11-12) Led, strongly challenged 2 out, headed last, soon rallied, no extra closing stages, 2nd of 6, 3l behind Canal Bank (11-10) at Market Rasen 3m 5f hcp chs 0-105 (4) gs in Dec.
Cilliseal (IRE) 9-2 (11-3) Held up in rear, not fluent 4th, headway after 2 out, led after last, headed over 1f out, held final 100 yards, 2nd of 9, 1 1/2l behind Finbin (11-3) at Hexham 3m 1f hcp chs 0-100 (5) hvy.
Lutin du Moulin (FR) 9-1 (10-10) Behind and soon pushed along, headway under pressure 3 out, ridden after last, stayed on to go 3rd final 120 yards, never nearer, 3rd of 7, 7l behind Danny John Boy (10-12) at Cartmel 3m 6f hcp chs 0-105 (4) gd.
Finbin (IRE) 8-1 (11-3) Mid-division, jumped slowly 1st and 2nd, headway 11th, went 2nd after 3 out, challenged after last, led over 1f out, all out, won at Hexham 3m 1f hcp chs 0-100 (5) hvy beating Cilliseal (11-3) by 1 1/2l, 9 ran.
Maple Valley Gale (IRE) 9-1 (10-8) Chased leader in 4th, fell 9th, in a race won by Kingsmoss (11-12) at Downpatrick 2m 7f hcp chs 0-102 gd, 8 ran.
Roybuoy 8-1 (10-12) Mid-division, hit 7th when closing, chased winner 3 out, ridden after 2 out, no impression on winner from last, lost 2nd towards finish, 3rd of 10, 4 1/2l behind Douglas (10-11) at Cartmel 2m 6f sell hcp hdl 0-95 (5) gd.
Treehouse 10-3 (10-11) Held up, behind 7th, tailed off 10th, 4th of 7, well behind Fog Patches (10-10) at Hexham 2m 4f hcp chs 0-100 (5) hvy.
Joe's A Boy (IRE) 10-1 (12-0) Lft 2nd 9-13; outpcd 3 out, 3rd of 6, 17l behind Castletown Cross (11-7) at Tabley 3m ptp gd.
Shulmin 10-1 (10-8) Always towards rear, tailed off, 11th of 13, well behind Gougane (10-13) at Cartmel 2m 5f hcp chs 0-100 (5) gd.
Hathamore 3-1fav (10-4) Led, not fluent 7th, headed 2 out, went well held 3rd on bend turning for home, 3rd of 11, 23l behind Mysterious World (10-3) at Cartmel 2m 1f hcp chs 0-95 (5) gd.
Dodge The Bullet 200-1 (11-0) Always towards rear, weakened before 2 out, 7th of 10, well behind Graceful Descent (10-4) at Hexham 2m 4f mdn hdl (5) gd in May.
Tiger Billy (IRE) 20-1 (9-8) In touch in mid-division, went 5th 4 out, soon no chnace with leaders, lost 4th close home, 5th of 10, 37l behind Hathamore (10-2) at Cartmel 3m 2f hcp chs 0-95 (5) gd.
