held up in rear, blundered 6 out, headway before 4 out, went 5th before 3 out, kept on to take 3rd place run-in
chased leader, soon in touch, ridden 2 out, kept on to chase winner run-in, always held
led from 3rd, made rest, kept on strongly from last, driven out
led to 3rd, chased leaders, reminders before 3 out, weakened run-in
chased leaders, weakened 5 out
always towards rear
held up mid-division, reminders before 7 out, mistake 5 out when weakening, pulled up before 2 out, tailed off
mid-division, towards rear 4th, weakened before 7 out
behind, blundered 5th, tailed off and pulled up 2 out
in touch, mistake 8 out, went 3rd before 2 out, one pace
towards rear, some headway before 4th, tailed off 5 out, pulled up
Nonrunner
SPECIAL PORTRAIT unseated when odds-on at Perth last week having been badly hampered. Mark Hughes' charge can make amends in this as he'd gone close at Cheltenham on his penultimate start. Back On The Road won that Perth race, defeating Harry Flashman by less than a length. There's little between that pair in this but Digg Whitaker beat Buckstruther in a more convincing fashion over track and trip last month and the former should make another bold bid. Drom has outside claims but the remainder are harder to fancy.
Back On The Road (IRE) 22-1 (11-13) Held up in rear, closed 6th, went 8 lengths 2nd 2 out, closed on leader final 100 yards, stayed on to lead close home, won at Perth 3m hts chs (6) gd beating Harry Flashman (11-9) by 3/4l, 9 ran.
Buckstruther (IRE) 4-5fav (11-11) Held up on outside, headway 7th, hit 14th, ridden in 3rd after 3 out, went 2nd last, no impression on winner, 2nd of 8, 7l behind Digg Whitaker (11-5) at Kelso 3m 2f nov hts chs (5) gd in Apr.
Drom 10-3 (12-5) Led 4-13 & 14-4 out; wknd app 2 out, 3rd of 10, 13l behind Sorceror (12-5) at Zetland 3m ptp gd.
Harry Flashman 7-2 (11-9) Prominent, led 3rd, headed after next, led 9th, headed 11th, led again 4 out, 8 lengths ahead 2 out, tied up final 100 yards, headed close home, 2nd of 9, 3/4l behind Back On The Road (11-13) at Perth 3m hts chs (6) gd.
Itzacliche (IRE) 28-1 (9-8) Held up in last, jumped slowly and pushed along 3rd, ridden after 9th, behind 11th, pulled up before 14th, in a race won by You Know Yourself (11-4) at Kelso 3m 2f hcp chs 0-125 (3) gd in Apr, 7 ran.
A New Rising (IRE) 50-1 (11-7) Chased leaders, led before 14th, headed 14th, went 2nd and blundered 2 out, no chance with winner, 2nd of 15, 21l behind Show Public (11-9) at Hexham 3m 1f hts chs (6) gd.
Barr Head (IRE) 50-1 (11-5) Tracked leaders, mistake 5th, lost place next, mistake 9th, well beaten after 4 out, tailed off, 7th of 9, well behind Back On The Road (11-13) at Perth 3m hts chs (6) gd.
Go West (IRE) 16-1 (11-5) Tracked leaders in 4th, led 14th, headed 5 out, went 3rd before 3 out, one pace, 3rd of 11, 40l behind Special Portrait (11-13) at Perth 3m 2f hts chs (5) gs in Apr.
Pistolet Time (IRE) 3-1 (11-11) Soon tracked leader, led briefly 5th, led again 8th, mistake next, headed 11th, in 3rd from 2 out, weakened last, 4th of 7, 44l behind Palos Conti (11-11) at Sedgefield 3m 3f hts chs (6) gs in Apr.
Senor Alco (FR) 6-4 (12-9) Ap; led 15; stayed on wl, won at Haydon 3m ptp sft beating Noir Et Vert (12-8) by 10l, 8 ran.
Waterski 100-1 (11-5) Prominent, led after 4th, headed 9th, led 11th, headed 4 out, weakened 2 out, 4th of 9, 24l behind Back On The Road (11-13) at Perth 3m hts chs (6) gd.
Special Portrait (IRE) 8-13fav (11-13) Held up, hampered and unseated rider 2nd, in a race won by Back On The Road (11-13) at Perth 3m hts chs (6) gd, 9 ran.
Digg Whitaker 11-1 (11-5) Led, not fluent 11th, soon headed, led again 13th, ridden before 2 out, clear last, stayed on well, won at Kelso 3m 2f nov hts chs (5) gd in Apr beating Buckstruther (11-11) by 7l, 8 ran.
Harmony Brig (IRE) 5-4 (12-5) Led til hdd 11; outpcd aft 3 out, 3rd of 8, 11l behind Best Profile (12-0) at Dalston 3m ptp gd in Apr '12.
