with leader, led before 7th, headed 3 out, every chance when blundered badly and lost place next, soon ridden, kept on flat
mid-division, driven and kept on from 2 out, no impression
mid-division, headway and in touch 4 out, hit next, led last, ridden and headed flat, kept on, held towards finish
close up on outside, mistake 3rd, ridden after 3 out, soon outpaced, kept on under pressure flat, no impression with leading pair
mistakes, always behind, tailed off from 2 out
in touch, headway 2 out, ridden and effort when not fluent last, stayed on under pressure to lead flat, held on towards finish
mid-division, chased leaders 3 out, ridden and kept on same pace from next, no impression
held up, headway into mid-division halfway, mistake 4 out, outpaced when not much room on inside approaching 2 out, soon weakened, tailed off
tracked leaders, lost place after 4 out, soon outpaced, 8th and beaten when mistake last
led to before 7th, with leader, led again 3 out, headed last, ridden and one pace flat
soon pushed along in mid-division, reminders from 2nd, dropped rear 5th, soon tailed off, pulled up before 3 out
keen early, held up, always behind, tailed off 2 out
DOC WELLS is our selection in the opener with Heez A Steel and Mcmurrough the others of note. The Dr Massini gelding struggled under incredibly testing conditions last time out at Carlisle but he had exhibited plenty of promise in bumpers so we are prepared to give him another chance. Heez A Steel has been in rude health over the last couple of months. The trainer's hand has been forced to run in races of this nature but his pilot is well worth his 7lb claim. Mcmurrough finished seventh in a decent contest at Aintree's National meeting. The form looks pretty solid though his jumping is not fluent. Milans Man is related to a number of staying winners and the market has to be watched. James Ewart is a trainer to note this year though Sirkeel will need to have improved a few pounds on what we have seen thus far. Hey Charlie ran well on his first appearance for a couple of years. He conceivably could be open to further improvement. Arran Law should be fit from a recent outing. Doc Wells gets the nod in a race likely to produce plenty of future winners.
Heez A Steel (IRE) 7-4 (10-11) Tracked leader to after 7th, hit 4 out, ridden and headway between last 2, regained 2nd last, stayed on to lead flat, drew clear towards finish, won at Kelso 2m 6f hdl (3) gd in Oct beating Now This Is It (11-1) by 4l, 8 ran.
Arran Law (IRE) 15-2 (10-12) Held up towards rear, headway 2 out, weakened final 100 yards, 4th of 10, 4 1/2l behind Nocturnal Knight (10-12) at Kelso 2m nh nov hdl (4) gd in Oct.
Canadian Blaze (IRE) 11-8fav (10-1) Held up, headway 3 out, led flat, kept on well, won at Kelso 2m 6f NH mdn hdl (5) gd in Oct beating Humbie (11-0) by 2l, 11 ran.
Doc Wells (IRE) 2-1fav (11-0) Held up towards rear, pushed along approaching 7th, soon struggling, tailed off when pulled up after 3 out, in a race won by Alora Money (10-7) at Carlisle 3m 1f mdn hdl (5) gd in Oct, 11 ran.
Hey Charlie (IRE) 16-1 (11-0) Held up, steady headway after 3 out, outpaced next, soon no impression, better for race, 6th of 15, 31l behind The Ginger Man (10-9) at Perth 2m 4f mdn hdl (5) gd in May.
McMurrough (IRE) 4-5fav (10-12) Led, jumped right 3rd, headed flat, kept on same pace, 2nd of 12, 2 1/4l behind Skylancer (11-5) at Kelso 2m nh nov hdl (4) gd in Oct.
Milans Man (IRE) 4-1 (11-7) Mid div, mainly 5th till 4th from 11th, 3rd 5out, prog to ld from 3out, sn cl, row, easily, won at Cahergal 3m ire ptp in Apr beating Nice Love (11-7) by 6l, 8 ran.
Oscar Honey (IRE) 5-2 (11-0) Tracked leaders until led 4th, 2 lengths up when lost footing and fell 7th, in a race won by Sphinx (11-3) at Kelso 2m 6f nh nov hdl (4) gd in Mar, 11 ran.
Saujana 16-1 (10-12) Held up mid-division, weakened over 1f out, 9th of 10, 37l behind Nocturnal Knight (10-12) at Kelso 2m nh nov hdl (4) gd in Oct.
Sirkeel (FR) 15-8fav (10-12) Prominent until weakened approaching last, 5th of 11, 43l behind Elzahann (10-12) at Hexham 3m nh nov hdl (4) gd in Apr.
Surely Blue (IRE) 66-1 (11-0) Tracked leaders, weakened approaching 3 out, 7th of 11, well behind Canadian Blaze (10-1) at Kelso 2m 6f NH mdn hdl (5) gd in Oct.
Sylvan Oak (IRE) 150-1 (11-1) Prominent until weakened 3 out, soon beaten, 6th of 9, 38l behind Singing Wizard (11-1) at Kelso 2m 2f nov hdl (4) gd in Mar.
Just Maddie 125-1 (10-5) Held up towards rear, weakened from 6th, 6th of 9, well behind Dancing Dik (10-9) at Newcastle 2m 4f nh nov hdl (4) gf in Mar.
