tracked leader, led 5th, ridden 2 out, edged right approaching last when headed, no extra flat
in touch, outpaced 3 out, weakened from next
keen early, held up, headway and in touch before 3 out, effort next, ridden and one pace last
prominent, dropped rear and reminders before 4th, badly outpaced 3 out, headway between last 2, ridden and stayed on to lead flat
led to 5th, close up until lost place 4 out, behind when pulled up before last
mid-division, headway 4 out, effort next, ridden and outpaced approaching last
chased leaders, outpaced before 2 out, soon weakened
held up, ridden 4 out, never on terms
in touch, challenged 4 out, kept on and every chance between last 2, one pace flat
behind, outpaced 3 out, soon weakened, tailed off
Nonrunner
Merigo would have been a very interesting contender off a mark of 108 but this is not his ground and we instead side with C'MONTHEHAMMERS. The selection was a ready winner on just his third start over hurdles recently, when beating Le Vert Galant at Uttoxeter. That form doesn't scream "quality" but all he seems to do is stay and with the ground in his favour once again, he looks sure to run well off a mark of 114. Great Approach is one of many chasers in the line-up who is over hurdles today and he showed guts when winning last time, whilst Merigo would have gone close in the Scottish National had it been run on heavy but he had to miss that engagement and he may have to wait till the rain comes before he is winning again. Mr Preacher Man is a course winner, Solway Minstrel is a course and distance winner and the 12-year-old is rated better than his last start at Newcastle, whilst Easby Park is a strong-stayer but he arguably looks high enough in the weights now and was fortunate to take second last time out. Stagecoach Opal is back over hurdles after some aborted chase efforts, whilst similar comments apply to Scots Dragoon if he is turned out after his disappointment here on Wednesday. Not the easiest race to assess but we are happy to nominate the unexposed C'Monthehammers.
Easby Park 9-1 (11-5) Led, mistake 8th, headed 4 out, ridden and outpaced before next, rallied to go 2nd flat, no impression, 2nd of 8, 7l behind Grand Theatre (11-12) at Ayr 3m nov hcp hdl 0-135 (3) gd.
Stagecoach Opal 4-1 (10-11) Tracked leaders in 3rd, jumped right, collided, fell 1st, in a race won by Seymour Weld (11-5) at Market Rasen 3m 1f nov stks (3) gd, 4 ran.
Scots Dragoon 8-1 (11-2) In touch, lost place quickly after 7th, pulled up before next, dismounted, in a race won by Native Coral (11-3) at Perth 2m 4f hcp chs 0-130 (3) gd, 13 ran.
C'Monthehammers (IRE) 8-1 (10-11) Tracked leader, led 9th, mistake 2 out, soon shaken up, hit last, stayed on well, in command flat, won at Uttoxeter 3m mdn hdl (4) gd in Mar beating Le Vert Galant (11-2) by 9l, 6 ran.
Mr Preacher Man 9-1 (11-2) Mid-division, hampered 9th, soon lost place, ridden and chased leaders 4 out, no impression, 5th of 11, 17l behind Or de Grugy (11-6) at Kelso 3m 1f hcp chs 0-125 (3) gd in Mar.
Solway Minstrel 22-1 (10-0) Behind from halfway, tailed off, 12th of 14, well behind Risk Runner (10-13) at Newcastle 3m hcp hdl 0-130 (3) gd in Mar.
Lily Tara 10-3fav (11-7) Held up in touch, chased leaders 4 out, one pace from 2 out, 4th of 12, 8l behind Jayne's Crusader (11-0) at Wetherby 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gd in Mar.
Orchard King (IRE) 33-1 (11-9) Chased leaders, ridden and weakened 3 out, 8th of 18, well behind And Whatever Else (11-4) at Perth 3m 4yo Am hcp 0-100 (4) gd.
Doctor Kilbride (IRE) 33-1 (10-7) Mid-division, struggling 8th, never in contention, 5th of 17, well behind Theatrical Moment (11-10) at Towcester 3m hcp hdl 0-120 (3) gd in Mar.
Guerilla (AUS) 33-1 (10-7) Chased leader until lost place 6th, tailed off when pulled up before 4 out, in a race won by Royal Hilarity (11-4) at Newcastle 2m 4f nov hcp chs 0-115 (4) gf in Mar, 8 ran.
Great Approach (IRE) 9-1 (10-9) Held up, headway approaching 8th, led and hit last, driven out, won at Bangor 3m hcp hdl 0-140 (2) gd in Mar beating Distiller (10-10) by 1l, 12 ran.
Merigo (FR) 5-1 (11-1) In touch, every chance 3 out, soon ridden, switched right approaching last, stayed on well under pressure to lead near finish, won at Newcastle 4m 1f hcp chs (2) hvy in Feb beating Morgan Be (11-3) by 1/2l, 13 ran.
