Four of Treehouse's five wins over fences have come at Hexham and he took advantage of a tumbling mark to score there last month when Sammy Spiderman was well behind - this is more competitive, however. Blazing Diva is hard to predict nowadays while Esme Rides A Gaine always seems to find one too good, though stays well and should be in firing-line again. TIPSY DARA was hampered and fell at the first at Perth last time but is normally a safe jumper and was at least spared a slog through the mud that day in a race in which Blazing Diva and Overlady were eventually pulled up. Still open to improvement, Lucy Alexander's mount can gain compensation here as Kilvergan Boy can be a hard ride, though was only beaten a nose over 3m3f at Newton Abbot last month.
Easement 7-2 (10-9) Prominent, led 5th, headed 7th, ridden after next, weakened flat, 4th of 7, 19l behind Malin Bay (10-11) at Kelso 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-120 (4) gd in Apr.
Heez A Steel (IRE) 100-1 (9-11) Chased leaders, hit 11th, soon lost place, pulled up after 18th, in a race won by Merigo (10-2) at Ayr 4m hcp chs G3 (1) gd in Apr, 24 ran.
Overlady 18-1 (10-4) Led, headed 20th, weakened before 3 out, soon pulled up, in a race won by Cerium (10-1) at Perth 3m 7f hcp chs 0-125 (3) sft in Apr, 11 ran.
Royal Mackintosh 5-1 (11-4) Held up towards rear, soon tracked leaders, in 4th when blundered 10th, weakened and reminders before 13th, 5th of 8, well behind Mr Woods (10-2) at Carlisle 3m 2f hcp ch 0-110 (4) hvy in Mar.
Blazing Diva (IRE) 9-1 (10-0) Chased leaders, jumped slow 10th, reminders before next, soon towards rear, tailed off before 17th, pulled up before 18th, in a race won by Cerium (10-1) at Perth 3m 7f hcp chs 0-125 (3) sft in Apr, 11 ran.
Kilvergan Boy (IRE) 5-2fav (10-9) Held up towards rear, good headway to 3rd at 10th, ridden approaching 15th, went 2nd next, led 4 out, stayed on until no extra flat, headed post, 2nd of 7, ns behind Double Chocolate (11-7) at Newton Abbot 3m 2f hcp ch 0-110 (4) gd in Apr.
Tipsy Dara (IRE) 7-1 (9-11) Mid-division, badly hampered and fell 1st, in a race won by Cerium (10-1) at Perth 3m 7f hcp chs 0-125 (3) sft in Apr, 11 ran.
Sierra Victor (IRE) 6-1 (11-12) Tracked leaders, jumped slowly 2nd, lost place approaching 7th, behind 9th, pulled up before 15th, in a race won by Tipsy Dara (11-2) at Hexham 3m 1f hcp chs 0-95 (5) hvy in Apr, 10 ran.
Treehouse 13-2 (10-11) Led until approaching 4th, stayed prominent, challenged last, soon led, idled in front, ridden out, won at Hexham 3m 1f hcp chs 0-95 (5) hvy in Apr beating Melua Maid (10-13) by 2 3/4l, 11 ran.
Sammy Spiderman 7-1 (11-5) Held up, pushed along after 7th, weakened approaching 4 out, tailed off, 6th of 11, 46l behind Treehouse (10-11) at Hexham 3m 1f hcp chs 0-95 (5) hvy in Apr.
More Equity 11-2 (11-7) Tracked leaders, took keen hold, lost place 3rd, headway approaching 3 out, stayed on same pace last, 5th of 12, 6l behind Jasperito (10-6) at Perth 3m am hcp hdl 0-105 (4) sft in Apr.
Acrai Rua (IRE) 33-1 (11-12) Held up in touch, pushed along 11th, ridden after 12th, soon weakened, 7th of 11, well behind Apache Blue (10-9) at Catterick 3m 1f hcp chs 0-110 (4) gd in Nov.
Frontier Boy (IRE) 8-1 (11-5) Tracked leader, hit 6th, weakened from 4 out, 5th of 10, well behind Belmore Baron (10-10) at Sedgefield 3m 3f hcp ch 0-110 (4) gd in Mar.
Esme Rides A Gaine 6-1 (11-5) Led, ridden and headed before 2 out, kept on same pace, 2nd of 9, 3l behind Mansonien L'as (10-4) at Sedgefield 3m 3f hcp chs 0-95 (5) sft.
Danny John Boy 18-1 (11-9) Tracked leader until 5th, given reminders, lost place before 10th, behind 11th, went poor 3rd flat, tailed off, 3rd of 10, 46l behind Tipsy Dara (11-2) at Hexham 3m 1f hcp chs 0-95 (5) hvy in Apr.
Dollar Mick (IRE) 9-2 (10-9) With leader, led 4th, headed 7th, led again before 5 out, soon headed after, weakened before 4 out, 7th of 8, 22l behind Isla Pearl Fisher (11-8) at Newcastle 3m hcp ch 0-110 (4) gd in Mar.
