held up, chased winner from 5th, ridden and hit 2 out, one pace from last
held up in rear, reminders after 4th, weakened from 6th, tailed off
tracked leaders 3rd, lost place approaching 6th, tailed off when pulled up before 8th
tracked winner until 5th, chased leaders, ridden after 4 out, chased winner approaching last, no impression
tracked leaders, ridden approaching 9th, ridden and outpaced 4 out
made all, clear after 2 out
Nonrunner
The short list for this contest consists of Yankee Holiday, Schinken Otto and Nobody's Perfect, with the selection being Yankee Holiday. Yankee Holiday jumped well when winning at Hexham last time and he can go well, despite the fact that he has gone up eleven pounds in the ratings. Back to the mark from which he won at Wetherby in January, admittedly over a half-mile longer trip, Sound Of Cheers can be fancied on that basis but he could well need this. Schinken Otto still has it to prove from his revised rating but is not ruled out of a good run in what is a run-of-the-mill event, while Nobody's Perfect could be reasonably handicapped going over the larger obstacles now but he possibly lacks jumping experience. Persian Point is another that might go well, while Pure Brief holds claims if returning to his winning 2005 form. Finally, Stormy Beech possibly has it to prove from four pounds wrong in the weights which, in turn, return us to the selection, Yankee Holiday.
Schinken Otto (IRE) 14-1 (11-4) Mid-division, went 4th 9th until approaching 3 out, soon no impression, left moderate 3rd last, 3rd of 9, 23l behind Jarro (10-11) at Stratford 2m 1f hcp chs 0-115 (4) sft in Oct.
Sound Of Cheers 9-1 (10-3) In touch, weakened 10th, behind from 4 out, last of 8, 37l behind Calatagan (11-2) at Stratford 2m 4f hcp chs 0-130 (3) gd in Apr.
Nobodys Perfect (IRE) 9-2 (11-11) Behind, outpaced 4th, never dangerous, 7th of 9, well behind It's Bertie (11-6) at Carlisle 2m nov hcp chs 0-105 (4) hvy in Oct.
Persian Point 14-1 (11-1) Held up, left 3rd 8th, outpaced 4 out, 3rd of 5, 11l behind Yes Sir (10-12) at Kelso 2m 1f nov chs (3) gf in May.
Pure Brief (IRE) 5-2jt-fav (10-8) Chased leaders, lost place 6th, no danger after, 5th of 7, 12l behind Syroco (11-9) at Warwick 2m hcp chs 0-105 (4) gd in Oct.
Stormy Beech 3-1jt-fav (10-10) Held up, headway and effort approaching 2 out, no extra approaching last, 4th of 9, 19l behind Fair Spin (11-7) at Hexham 2m hcp hdl 0-100 (4) gs.
Yankee Holiday (IRE) 9-2fav (10-5) Close up, led 5th, made rest, stayed on strongly, won at Hexham 2m hcp chs 0-95 (5) gf in Sept beating Manoubi (11-12) by 5l, 11 ran.
