in touch, headway 7th, led 9th, headed after 13th, remained close up, ridden, weakened after 2 out
held up in rear, headway halfway, led approaching 13th, made rest, drew clear flat
towards rear, headway and in touch 13th, pushed along 4 out, weakened quickly and pulled up before next
led 3rd to 6th, remained close up, mistake 14th, 2 lengths down and one pace when mistake last
towards rear, outpaced when blundered badly 15th, fell next
chased leaders, pushed along 13th, outpaced 4 out, one paced next
tracked leaders, led 6th to 9th, pushed along and lost place 14th, soon weakened
led to 3rd, dropped rear 8th, outpaced 14th, rallied after 2 out, went 3rd last, no impression on leading pair
Nonrunner
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A very competitive handicap with Kings Bounty, Lothian Falcon, Primitive Way and Now Then Sid all in with a shout but the tentative vote goes to the last named. Now Then Sid wins in his turn and was dropped one pound for finishing six of eleven at Hexham last time out. He is better judged on his previous performance when winning at Sedgefield and if reproducing that effort will be tough to beat. Kings Bounty has to be short listed but has plenty of weight to carry and will find the nine pounds that he was put could make the difference of winning and losing. Lothian Falcon was running well when last seen out in December but he always seems to need his first outing and will be sure to come on for the run. Primitive Way has been in great form of late and seems to defy his age but it does have to be a concern at the age of fourteen and for that reason he has to be treated with caution. So for the winner we return to Now Then Sid.
Montreal (FR) 20-1 (11-10) Always behind, lost touch 15th, tailed off, 8th of 10, well behind Harry's Dream (11-12) at Ludlow 3m hcp chs 0-115 (D) gf in Oct.
Lothian Falcon 9-2fav (10-7) Held up, badly hampered 12th, headway 3 out, kept on well run-in, unlucky, 2nd of 11, 2 1/2l behind Robbo (11-8) at Catterick 3m 1f hcp chs 0-120 (D) gd in Dec.
Now Then Sid 7-2fav (11-9) Chased leaders, mistake 2nd, mistake and hung left 6th, lost place 10th, no danger after, 6th of 11, 28l behind Rifleman (11-1) at Hexham 2m 4f hcp chs 0-95 (5) gd in Apr.
Primitive Way 14-1 (10-2) Mid-division, ridden 4 out, chased winner 2 out, kept on same pace under pressure, 2nd of 12, 2 1/2l behind Noble Buck (10-4) at Perth 3m 7f hcp chs 0-110 (4) gf in Apr.
Interdit (FR) 12-1 (11-12) In touch, led 3rd until blundered and unseated rider at the 10th in race won by Noble Buck (10-4) at Perth 3m 7f hcp chs 0-110 (4) gf in Apr, 12 ran.
King's Bounty 8-1 (11-7) Chased leaders, led 11th, drew clear approaching last, pushed out, won at Market Rasen 2m 6f hcp chs 0-105 (4) gd in Feb beating Opportunity Knocks (9-7) by 7l, 13 ran.
Miss Mattie Ross 16-1 (9-12) Held up mid-divison, outpaced from 14th, no danger after, 5th of 11, 16l behind Undeniable (11-4) at Carlisle 3m hcp chs 0-130 (3) sft in Apr.
Over The Storm (IRE) 12-1 (10-13) Always prominent, led after 10th, ridden from 3 out, kept on well, won at Market Rasen 3m 1f hcp chs 0-105 (4) gd in Apr beating Runaway Bishop (10-9) by 1l, 13 ran.
