in rear, went 4th after 5 out, left remote 3rd from 2 out
tracked leader, lost place 8th, soon tailed off in rear, pulled up before 11th
held up towards rear, went 3rd 7 out, ridden before 4 out, left 2nd 2 out, no chance with winner
tracked leaders, mistake 10th, weakened 6 out
made all, hit 3 out, easily
tracked winner, held when fell 2 out
Settledoutofcourt easily won a conditionals' handicap over a shorter distance at Hexham last week and escapes a penalty. He must go close here with a similar effort but his odds will reflect that fact and we're just as interested in MR SUPREME. The top weight goes well fresh and has been given plenty of time to recover from a disastrous first run over fences at Doncaster a year ago - this is more his trip and he still has a future. John Wade's chasers are always worth a second look here and Dingo Bay won twice over these fences last winter. Bishophill Jack will be all the better for his run at Exeter last month but Foot The Bill was very disappointing on his return to action at Musselburgh and may need another run to put him straight.
Mr Supreme (IRE) 8-1 (11-1) Held up in rear, weakened before 7th, tailed off and unseated 5 out, in a race won by Lets Get Serious (11-1) at Doncaster 2m 3f nov chs (4) sft in Nov '12, 6 ran.
Bishophill Jack (IRE) 9-1 (11-0) Chasing leading pair when blundered rider lost iron briefly and lost place 1st, in touch in 5th, not fluent 6th, pushed along outpaced in 5th and no chance when blundered 4 out and 2 out, tired and went badly right last, 5th of 9, 18l behind Standing Ovation (10-0) at Exeter 3m hcp chs 0-120 (4) gf in Oct.
Frank The Slink 14-1 (11-12) In rear and outpaced, plugged on from 4 out, went 4th after last, never dangerous, 4th of 8, 13l behind Tutchec (11-2) at Carlisle 2m 4f hcp chs 0-110 (4) gs in Oct.
Foot The Bill 5-2fav (11-6) Tracked leader, blundered 1st, soon in touch, weakened from 13th, mistake next, 4th of 6, 45l behind More Equity (11-12) at Musselburgh 3m hcp chs 0-110 (4) gd.
Settledoutofcourt (IRE) 5-2 (11-6) Tracked leader, mistake 6th, led before 12th, clear before last, won at Hexham 2m 4f hcp chs 0-100 (5) sft beating Fitandproperjob (10-11) by 12l, 6 ran.
Dingo Bay 9-4fav (10-2) Tracked leaders, driven 4 out, kept on same pace, no impression from 2 out, 4th of 9, 12l behind My Friend George (10-6) at Newcastle 3m hcp chs 0-105 (4) gs in Apr.
