held up in rear, took keen hold, hit 3rd, headway approaching 3 out, 4th when jumped left and hit 2 out, no impression last
tracked leaders, ridden after 6th, no impression from 3 out
mid-division, headway after 6th, went 2nd approaching 2 out, led and hit last, carried head on one side and not keen flat, headed close home
held up, ridden 6th, always in rear
jumped left, with leader until after 2nd, not fluent 4th, weakened after 6th, tailed off
held up towards rear, jumped left and not fluent 5th, stayed on from 3 out, went 4th flat, nearest finish
tracked leaders, lost place approaching 4th, headway after 6th, blundered 3 out, soon no impression
led until 3rd, hampered on bend soon after, lost place when mistake 4th, soon behind
mid-division, headway approaching 3rd, hung right after 3 out, soon weakened
mid-division, headway 4th, chased winner approaching 3 out until before next, stayed on same pace flat
held up, ridden after 6th, never on terms
always in rear
towards rear, not fluent 1st or 4th, headway after 6th, ridden 3 out, no impression next
tracked leaders, led 3rd, clear next until jumped left and mistake 2 out, headed last, stayed on gamely to regain lead close home
Nonrunner
Pillar Of Hercules has been expensive to follow but has to be on the short-list following a perfectly respectable effort over course and distance and remains well handicapped. He has plenty to fear from Midlands raider Switched Off who will have 8lbs more to carry in future and that pair are likely to dominate the market in a race that may not be as competitive as numbers suggest. Agricultural, Whaston and Tae Kwon Do are unexposed runners to bear in mind if the market vibes are encouraging but it might be worth chancing our arm with SHERIFF HALL. He's shown next to nothing over hurdles but is handicapped accordingly and did win a bumper quite impressively so could be worth a very speculative interest in the hope that the tongue tie works the oracle.
Pillar of Hercules (IRE) 9-2 (11-0) Held up in touch, challenged 2 out, led approaching last, ridden and headed final 100 yards, no extra, 2nd of 15, 1 1/2l behind Altan Khan (11-0) at Musselburgh 2m hcp hdl 0-125 (3) gd.
Waterloo Corner 28-1 (11-3) Towards rear, headway and in touch on outside 5th, chased leading pair 3 out to before last , soon weakened, 13th of 15, well behind Sunarri (11-0) at Kelso 2m 2f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gd.
Switched Off 9-4fav (11-8) Chased leaders, squeezed up 2nd, led narrowly just before 2 out, high head carriage but cajoled along and always just doing enough flat, won at Wincanton 2m cond nov hcp hdl 0-100 (4) gd beating J'adhere (11-5) by 2l, 8 ran.
Heart O' The West (IRE) 22-1 (10-13) Always towards rear, 10th of 13, 38l behind Cocoa Key (10-9) at Carlisle 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) sft in Oct.
Tae Kwon Do (USA) 8-1 (11-6) Mid-division, ridden 4 out, weakened next, 8th of 11, well behind Motarjm (11-8) at Fakenham 2m hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gd in Oct.
Long Distance (FR) 5-1 (10-12) Mid-division, outpaced 4 out, never on terms, 6th of 15, 17l behind Sunarri (11-0) at Kelso 2m 2f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gd.
Heart of Dubai (USA) 9-1 (10-0) Tracked leader on inside, hit 3 out, ridden and outpaced before next, 4th of 10, 19l behind King O'the Gypsies (11-4) at Sedgefield 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-130 (3) sft.
Balnagore 9-1 (10-10) Held up mid-division, chased leaders approaching 5 out, chased leaders in 4th when hampered and stumbled on bend before 3 out, soon lost place, 8th of 12, 35l behind No Supper (10-12) at Carlisle 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gd in Oct.
Bocciani (GER) 7-1 (10-9) Prominent, took keen hold, led approaching 3rd, headed after 3 out, stayed close up, led flat, headed close home, 2nd of 11, 1/2l behind Kensington Oval (11-9) at Towcester 2m 4yo Am hcp 0-100 (4) gd in Oct.
Whaston (IRE) 25-1 (10-5) Held up mid-division, chased leaders approaching 3 out, one pace when not fluent last, lost 3rd towards finish, 4th of 12, 10l behind Mesbaah (10-12) at Perth 2m nh nov hdl (4) gf in Sep '09.
Itstooearly 40-1 (10-7) Towards rear, outpaced 4 out, 8th last, stayed on to go 3rd flat, no chance with front pair, 3rd of 15, 11l behind Sunarri (11-0) at Kelso 2m 2f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gd.
Overyou 20-1 (11-8) Held up behind, headway 6th to go mid-division, quickly weakened after 4 out, pulled up before 3 out, tailed off, in a race won by Douglas Julian (10-13) at Carlisle 2m 4f nov hcp hdl 0-100 (4) hvy, 9 ran.
Red Tanber (IRE) 150-1 (10-12) In rear, jumped slowly 6th, behind 8th, 9th of 12, 41l behind Mostly Bob (11-5) at Aintree 2m 4f nh nov hdl (4) gd in May.
Sheriff Hall (IRE) 8-1 (11-2) Held up in rear, ridden after 4 out, soon weakened, tailed off, 12th of 14, well behind Zahara Joy (11-2) at Kelso 2m 2f nov hcp hdl 0-95 (5) gd in Oct.
Agricultural 200-1 (10-0) Held up towards rear, mistake 5th, weakened before 3 out, 9th of 10, well behind Ascendant (10-7) at Musselburgh 2m nh nov hdl (4) gd in Jan.
