held up mid-division in 5th, hit 10th, in 5th when pulled up before 4 out
held up in touch, blundered 8th, weakened before 13th
held up towards rear, tailed off before 13th, pulled up before 5 out
tracked leaders in 3rd, chased winner before 13th, ridden and every chance last, kept on and held by winner run-in
made all, ridden before 2 out, kept on well, driven out
soon in rear, detached 7th, jumped left 9th, tailed off when pulled up after 5th
tracked winner until reminders before 13th, no impression from 3 out
held up towards rear, ridden before 4 out, no impression
held up towards rear, headway 13th, went 3rd before 4 out, weakening when mistake 2 out
held up behind, headway when blundered 12th, blundered 14th, ridden before 4 out, mistake 2 out, never dangerous
Bally Wall is an out-and-out stayer and will always be vulnerable over this trip. He's also still 4lb higher than when recording his only win under Rules at Ayr in April of last year. Sun Tzu hasn't looked back since winning a selling hurdle at Stratford in March, scoring twice over fences already this month. This is his stiffest task to date, however, while Nudge And Nurdle, Chateau D'Eau and Solway Bay all return from a spell on the sidelines. Big Burrows and Soubriquet both need to return to their best form if they are to figure but St Killian's Run has claims on his second at Hexham and could be the main threat to GRAY MOUNTAIN. The latter got outpaced over shorter here last time but that looked a warm novices' handicap for this track and he'll be a lot happier tackling 3m over fences for the first time today.
Gray Mountain (USA) 3-1 (11-12) Held up in last pair, headway 7th, dropped to rear when not fluent 9th, no danger after, went moderate 4th after last, 4th of 5, 34l behind Peachey Moment (10-10) at Perth 2m 4f nov hcp chs 0-130 (3) gf.
Blaze Trailer (IRE) 20-1 (11-2) Rear of mid-division, weakened 5 out, pulled up before 3 out, in a race won by Katie's Jem (11-5) at Kilbeggan 3m cond hcp hdl 80-102 gd, 16 ran.
Big Burrows (IRE) 4-1 (10-11) Jumped left first, close up when blundered and unseated rider 2nd, in a race won by Montoya's Son (10-7) at Carlisle 2m 4f nov chs (3) gf in Apr, 5 ran.
Nudge And Nurdle (IRE) 9-1 (11-11) Held up in rear, ridden after 11th, no impression, 6th of 7, 35l behind Sir Ian (11-7) at Worcester 2m 4f hcp chs 0-130 (3) gd in Oct.
Sun Tzu (IRE) Evensfav (11-13) Made all, ridden 2 out, stayed on, driven out, won at Uttoxeter 3m hcp ch 0-110 (4) gf beating See You Jack (10-12) by 1 3/4l, 5 ran.
Chateau d'Eau (FR) 6-1 (11-10) Towards rear, some not fluent jumps, went 6th after 4 out, ridden in 3rd from 3 out, chased winner approaching last, stayed on well run-in, just failed, 2nd of 12, nk behind Golden Kite (11-5) at Cork 3m hdl gf in Jun '09.
Soubriquet (IRE) 14-1 (11-3) Pressed leader, not fluent 8th, ridden and lost place after 10th, weakened 3 out, 9th of 11, well behind Aghill (11-0) at Sedgefield 3m 3f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gd.
Bally Wall (IRE) 12-1 (9-10) Disputed early, headed 3rd, chased clear leader in 2nd, moderate 4th 4 out, left 3rd after next, no impression under pressure from 2 out, kept on one pace, 3rd of 10, 12l behind Harold's Cross (9-12) at Down Royal 2m 4f hcp chs gd.
Solway Bay 13-2 (9-13) Held up in rear, headway after 3 out, led inside final furlong, kept on, won at Kelso 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-130 (3) gf in May '10 beating Coastley (11-11) by 2l, 8 ran.
St Killian's Run (IRE) 7-4fav (11-8) Held up towards rear, headway before 3 out, chased winner before last, stayed on, 2nd of 11, hd behind City Of Doral (10-6) at Hexham 3m 1f hcp ch 0-110 (4) gd.
