in touch in 4th place, pushed along before 3 out, kept on same pace in 3rd
tracked leaders, ridden before last, kept on to chase winner run-in, no impression
made all, took keen hold, clear from last, ran on strongly
in rear and in touch, effort and not fluent 3 out, weakened before 2 out
tracked winner, ridden before last, lost 2nd place when no extra run-in
Normal Norman comfortably landed the odds at Market Rasen last month. He seems suited by sharp tracks and will go close here, despite his penalty. Sporting Press won a bumper here in March and has also been placed between the flags. He should make a hurdler and his yard is in peak form. RETURN TICKET was far too keen on his reappearance at Carlisle and was eased once his chance had gone. He’d impressed at Ayr in the spring and may well bounce back if settling a little better. Noah And The Ark was plunged into handicap company at Cheltenham after winning at Stratford and Kelso and should find this easier with Harrison Beswick’s claim helping to offset a double penalty.
Noah And The Ark (IRE) 14-1 (11-1) Held up in rear, mistake 3rd, headway on outside 3 out, no impression before last, 9th of 16, 14 1/4l behind Storm Rising (11-2) at Cheltenham 2m hcp (3) gd in Oct.
Normal Norman 10-11fav (11-0) Tracked leaders, challenging when mistake last, soon shaken up to lead, ran on well, won at Market Rasen 2m 1f mdn (4) gd in Oct beating William Hunter (11-0) by 2 1/4l, 7 ran.
Return Ticket (IRE) 7-2 (11-4) Held up towards rear, headway after 4 out, tracked leaders next, one pace after 2 out, never on terms, weakened flat, 6th of 12, 29 1/2l behind Good Boy Bobby (10-12) at Carlisle 2m 1f (4) gs in Oct.
Ballynanty (IRE) 33-1 (9-10) Settled behind leaders, 4th halfway, ridden and no extra 2f out, weakened over 1f out, last of 6, 20 1/4l behind Elishpour (9-9) at Dundalk 1m 4f hcp pol in Mar.
Sporting Press (IRE) 14-1 (11-7) Tracked leaders, lost place over 3f out, 11th of 15, 32 3/4l behind Sebastopol (10-9) at Ayr 2m (3) gd in Apr.
Pinspot 50-1 (10-12) Rear of mid-division, well beaten before 5th, 6th of 9, 33l behind Global Jackpot (11-10) at Perth 2m (4) gd in Sep.