held up in touch, tracked leaders approaching 3 out, led after 2 out, soon clear
held up and pulled hard, good headway to lead 5th and soon clear until 3 out, headed after next, soon weakened
held up, pushed along after 7th, headway approaching 2 out, took poor 2nd last
led to 5th, not fluent 9th, ridden approaching 2 out, weakened between last 2
chased leaders, weakened 4 out, pulled up next
held up, ridden after 3 out, outpaced from next
chased leader and mistakes, weakened 8th, pulled up 3 out
chased leaders, weakened 2 out
Sole Trader had disappointed in Irish point-to-points but made a pleasing first start under rules when fourth here in a novices' hurdle at the end of May but he is likely to be placed at best behind BACKSTAGE, who is taken to transfer winning chase form to the smaller obstacles and he gets the vote ahead of Flash Cummins. Peter Monteith's gelding has not been seen in action since running Blaze Ahead to two lengths in handicap at Huntingdon in November 2007 when he was trained by David Pipe. Twice a winner over fences, he has to be respected on his first start for new connections. Lord Samposin deserves to get his head in front having been placed in each of his last three starts, latterly behind Breeze Out over 2m5f at Hexham, but he is not certain to appreciate the longer trip today and looks best watched. Solway Star may improve for racing over this distance but he needs to, while Brocks Brae has failed to complete in his last two starts in points but does have useful form between the flags and cannot be discounted. Preference though is for Gordon Elliott's Backstage who has shown improved form over fences of late, winning in good fashion here last time, and he is taken to show similar improvement back over hurdles having run promisingly over timber a year ago when with Evan Williams.
Backstage (FR) 3-1fav (10-5) Held up in rear, steady headway approaching 4 out, chased leaders next, led 2 out, stayed on well, won at Perth 3m hcp chs 0-145 (2) gf in May beating Some Craic (9-12) by 11l, 13 ran.
Brocks Brae (IRE) 8-1 (12-0) Refused to race, in a race won by Pintown Cuckoo (12-0) at Ballingarry 3m ire ptp in May, 18 ran.
Flash Cummins (IRE) 8-1 (11-12) Tracked winner, hampered 8th, driven to challenge approaching 2 out, hit last kept on same pace, 2nd of 11, 2l behind Blaze Ahead (11-4) at Huntingdon 3m 2f hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gd in Nov '07.
Lord Samposin 5-2 (10-9) Led to 2nd, remained prominent, every chance approaching 2 out, faded flat, 3rd of 5, 13l behind Breeze Out (11-5) at Hexham 2m 4f nov hdl (4) gf in Jun.
Sole Trader (IRE) 40-1 (10-12) In touch on inner, headway and pushed along approaching 3 out, soon outpaced, 4th of 12, 31l behind Carsonstown Boy (10-12) at Perth 2m 4f nh nov hdl (4) gf in May.
Solway Star 66-1 (10-9) Held up, not fluent 2nd or 3rd, pushed along to go 5th before 3 out, went 3rd after 2 out, no chance with front pair, 3rd of 8, 27l behind Shiwawa (11-0) at Aintree 2m mdn hdl (4) gd in Jun.
Izearzabak (IRE) 50-1 (11-7) Always behind, not fluent jumping, tailed off, 20th of 21, well behind Jafra (11-7) at Cork 2m 4yo mdn hdl gd in Apr.
Kalatime (IRE) 125-1 (10-0) Always behind, tailed off when pulled up before last, in a race won by Cooksgrove Lady (10-0) at Hexham 2m 4f sell (5) gd in Jun, 13 ran.
