chased leaders, jumped left 4th, not fluent 6th, pushed along and lost place after 12th, driven and outpaced in 5th before next, weakened before 4 out, tailed off when blundered 2 out, pulled up before last
tracked leaders on inside, 2nd before 4 out, pushed along and 2 lengths down when blundered last, edged left and kept on same pace run-in
held up in last pair, headway into modest 4th before 3 out, no chance when blundered and unseated rider last
led until 14th, chased winner until weakened before 4 out, tailed off and left poor 4th last
chased leader, led 14th, 2 lengths ahead and going best when mistake last, clear when driven and hung right run-in
held up in last pair, 4th after 12th, 3rd approaching 4 out, pushed along and one pace before next, no chance with leading duo
behind, mistake 10th, struggling in rear when mistake 13th, soon tailed off, pulled up before 3 out
Gordon Elliott has taken over the training of Xaarcet since he won over hurdles at Fontwell in April. But the eight-year-old will need to improve on four previous tries over the larger obstacles. We prefer fellow Irish raider ST MAXIME, who wasn't beaten far in a couple of starts at Downpatrick last month over a similar trip. The mare Rev Up Ruby has hinted at ability over fences and has place claims while Shady Sadie is only 3lb higher than when scoring at Musselburgh in November. Bertie Milan won last year's Highland National here off today's mark but needs much softer going.
Speedy Tunes (IRE) 25-1 (11-10) Mid-division, lost place and behind 5th, went modest 4th 2 out (usual 3 out), never near leaders, 4th of 8, 21l behind Ballybogey (11-12) at Southwell 2m 4f hcp chs 0-115 (4) gd in Jun.
Xaarcet (IRE) 11-2 (11-5) Led to after 1st, pressed leader, ridden before 2 out, led when edged left between last 2, hard pressed towards finish, just held on, won at Fontwell 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-100 (5) gd in Apr beating Exemplary (11-5) by shd, 13 ran.
Rev Up Ruby 4-1 (10-7) Towards rear, headway before 13th, ridden before last, one pace, 4th of 6, 14l behind Scarlet Fire (10-6) at Hexham 3m 1f nov hcp chs 0-120 (4) gd in May.
Bertie Milan (IRE) 4-1 (10-11) Tracked leaders, challenged 8th, led 12th, headed 4 out, no impression 3 out, weakened before next, 4th of 5, 43l behind Russian Regent (11-2) at Perth 3m hcp chs 0-120 (4) sft in May.
St Maxime (IRE) 14-1 (9-11) Towards rear, slight mistake 6th, improved into poor 4th approaching 3 out, kept on without threatening into 3rd close home, 3rd of 14, 3 1/2l behind Abarta (9-13) at Downpatrick 2m 7f hcp chs 0-109 gd in Jun.
Shady Sadie (IRE) 7-1 (10-6) Midfield, headway, after 4out, ridden and one paced from 2out, 3rd of 10, 11l behind Cool Star (9-11) at Hexham 2m 4f hcp chs 0-100 (5) gd in Jun.
Lochore (IRE) 28-1 (10-0) Held up towards rear, outpaced 5 out, went remote 4th after 2 out, tailed off, 4th of 8, well behind Leanna Ban (11-9) at Kelso 2m 7f 5yo nov hcp (4) gd in May.
