mid-division, went handy 2nd, chased winner 4th until hit 6th and pecked, outpaced 9th, 4th and beaten when mistake 4 out, well held 5th when mistake and unseated rider last
in rear on outside, jumped slowly 1st, ridden and well beaten 9th, tailed off 4 out, soon pulled up
led until after 9th, led again next, not fluent 2 out, ridden out
held up, headway approaching 6th, mistake next, not fluent 9th, shaken up in 3rd from 4 out, ridden and swished tail before last, stayed on flat, closing on 2nd close home, no impression on winner
tracked leaders, went 2nd from after 2nd until 4th and again 6th until 8th, beaten 4 out, soon weakened
tracked winner until 2nd, soon lost place, ridden after 9th, stayed on to from 3 out to take 4th before last, no impression
held up, headway 4th, went 2nd 8th, led 9th until 4 out, stayed on same pace flat, no impression on winner
Nonrunner
Mitchell's Way is in a rich vein of form having won a jumpers' bumper before scoring over fences at Sedgefield and Carlisle. Rossini's Dancer won at Hexham and Aintree in the autumn and has his sights lowered again here while Categorical and Galway Jack are recent winners, though the latter was only fifth when Zaru chased home BADGER FOOT over track and trip in December. The runner-up is a couple of pounds better off today but that may not be enough to turn the tables on Lucinda Russell's gelding, who has proved much more consistent this season. He gets the vote though Diocles and You Know Yerself wouldn't be without a chance on their best form.
Zaru (FR) 3-1 (11-10) Tracked leading pair, mistake 8th, challenged 10th, led after 5 out, joined 2 out, soon ridden, headed narrowly between last 2, kept on, held flat, 2nd of 6, 2 1/2l behind Badger Foot (9-11) at Newcastle 2m 4f hcp chs 0-135 (3) sft in Dec.
Rossini's Dancer 25-1 (10-8) Tracked leaders, lost place after 10th, soon behind, stayed on to take moderate 3rd after 3 out, no chance with leaders, 3rd of 6, 22l behind No Planning (11-1) at Wetherby 2m 4f hcp chs 0-150 (2) hvy in Feb.
Galway Jack (IRE) 7-4fav (11-10) Made all, ridden before 2 out, pressed from last, all out, won at Southwell 2m 4f hcp chs 0-135 (3) sft beating Balzaccio (11-3) by 1 3/4l, 6 ran.
Mitchell's Way 9-2 (11-5) Tracked leaders, led 4 out, pressed last, ridden run-in, kept on towards finish, won at Carlisle 2m nov chs (3) gs beating Indian Voyage (10-12) by 1 1/4l, 6 ran.
You Know Yourself (IRE) 10-1 (11-3) Tracked leaders, led 2nd, headed before 10th, ridden before 3 out, weakened from next, 5th of 8, 12l behind Ballyoliver (11-3) at Carlisle 3m 2f hcp chs 0-130 (3) gs.
Categorical 3-1 (11-2) Led, mistake 9th, soon headed, led again 10th, headed 5 out, led again 4 out, stayed on strongly (1 fence ommited), won at Newcastle 2m 4f hcp chs 0-130 (3) sft beating Clondaw Flicka (11-7) by 11l, 4 ran.
Badger Foot (IRE) 7-2 (11-5) Tracked leaders in 3rd, went 2nd before 2 out, ridden before last, kept on and no impression with winner, 2nd of 3, 2 3/4l behind See Double You (11-4) at Ayr 2m 4f hcp ch 0-110 (4) hvy.
Diocles (IRE) 9-4 (11-7) Held up in touch, dropped to rear 5th, ridden 13th, mistake next, soon weakened, pulled up 2 out, in a race won by Pinerolo (10-8) at Catterick 3m 1f nov hcp chs (0-125) (3) hvy in Feb, 5 ran.
Kealigolane (IRE) 22-1 (11-12) Led, blundered 7th, headed 10th, soon weakened, tailed off, pulled up, in a race won by Mister Philson (10-1) at Ayr 3m 1f hcp chs 0-130 (3) hvy, 6 ran.
