held up mid-division, headway to chase leaders before 4 out, weakened before 3 out
held up in touch and keen, hit 9th, headway before 4 out, led 3 out, ridden and looked in command before last, caught close home
with leader, led 11th, headed 3 out, ridden and looked held before last, switched right flat, kept on gamely to regain lead close home
held up towards rear, headway on outer before 4 out, went 3rd from 3 out, no impression
led, headed after 6th, tracked leader, weakened before 3 out
in rear, good headway to lead after 6th, jumped right and hit 8th, headed 11th, weakened after 5 out
tracked leaders in 3rd, ridden before 2 out, weakened after last
After a couple of promising placed efforts FINLAY deservedly got off the mark over fences in a maiden chase at Sedgefield last month. Donald McCain's charge can go on to better things now he's got his head in front and he gets the vote in an open contest. Others with solid claims include recent Ayr winner Innominate along with Apache Blue, who scored at Market Rasen on his latest start. Allanard is 12lb higher than when winning at Wetherby in January but was still in contention when brought down over C&D last time, while Monsieur Jourdain could make the frame.
Monsieur Jourdain (IRE) 12-1 (10-13) Tracked leader, outpaced 4 out, kept on from next, went 3rd from last, one pace, 3rd of 6, 8l behind Whats Up Woody (10-9) at Carlisle 2m 4f nov hcp chs 0-130 (3) sft in Mar.
Finlay 85-40fav (11-0) Chased leaders and not fluent 2nd, went 2nd 8th until next, went 2nd again 12th until next, 2nd again 3 out, challenged and upsides 2 out, ridden and blundered last, looked held until rallied under pressure to lead close home, won at Sedgefield 2m 4f mdn chs (4) sft in Mar beating Playing The Field (11-0) by 1/2l, 6 ran.
Allanard (IRE) 7-4fav (10-3) Tracked leaders, disputing 3rd when badly hampered and brought down 3 out, in a race won by Lockstown (11-4) at Newcastle 2m 4f nov hcp chs 0-115 (4) sft in Feb, 5 ran.
Apache Blue (IRE) 6-1 (11-1) In rear, headway 4 out, chased leader 2 out, ridden to lead last, won at Market Rasen 2m 4f nov hcp chs 0-95 (5) gd in Mar beating Mad Professor (9-7) by 1 3/4l, 11 ran.
Innominate (IRE) 7-4fav (11-7) Led to 3rd, tracked leader, led again 11th, clear before 2 out, eased run-in, won at Ayr 2m 4f hcp ch 0-95 (5) sft in Mar beating Soul Angel (11-6) by 5l, 5 ran.
Still Calm 50-1 (11-0) Tracked leaders in 3rd and keen, in rear, struggling from 9th, left poor 3rd from 11th, never dangerous, 3rd of 5, well behind Catch Bob (10-7) at Sedgefield 2m 4f beg chase (4) gd in Mar.
Soul Magic (IRE) 20-1 (10-13) Towards rear, headway before 4 out, weakened from next, 5th of 12, 14l behind Sundown Trail (11-3) at Ayr 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-90 (5) sft in Feb.
