held up, driven and outpaced 3 out, never on terms
behind, outpaced 3 out, never dangerous
with leader, led 5th, joined 10th, headed 2 out, soon ridden, kept on same pace, lost 2nd towards finish
in touch, blundered 7th, soon lost place, tailed off and pulled up before 3 out
led to 5th, tracked leader, disputed lead 10th, led again 2 out, ridden and stayed on flat
close up on inside, ridden 2 out, kept on same pace, no impression
held up, headway and in touch 10th, ridden 2 out, no impression approaching last
tracked leaders, driven 2 out, ridden and stayed on under pressure flat, went 2nd towards finish, no impression
SMOKE AND MIRRORS won't meet anything as tough as Tataniano here, as he did when pulled up behind the Paul Nicholls inmate at Cheltenham last month and he is given another chance here, while Snake Charmer and Caramia are much respected. Charlie Egerton is not noted for his raids on Sedgefield and Smoke And Mirrors looks likely to be much better for this switch to fences. Good ground suits and he should be able to stay this far given the slower pace of chasing, so we will side with him. Snake Charmer has made the frame on all three of his chase starts and acts on any ground with good in the description. He ran well in context behind Font at Haydock last time and will be bang there again tonight. Caramia would probably want some cut in the ground to be seen to best effect and this trip might be short of his best, but it would be foolish to dismiss a Malcolm Jefferson inmate in a race like this and he is respected. Sheriff Hutton has conditions and trip to suit and his hurdling form entitles him to a big say in the outcome. Bewery Man likes it around here and should be well schooled for this chase debut. He can make his presence felt, but preference is for Smoke And Mirrors.
Bewery Man (IRE) 8-1 (11-2) Held up, headway 3 out, ridden and stayed on, every chance flat, no extra near finish, 2nd of 18, hd behind Cassius (11-2) at Newcastle 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gd in Mar.
Caramia (FR) 8-1 (10-12) Held up in touch, chased leaders 4 out, ridden 2 out, weakened flat, 4th of 6, 16l behind Minouchka (9-12) at Kelso 3m 1f nov stks (3) gd.
Flemross (IRE) 33-1 (11-2) Chased leaders, 6th after 3 out, no extra and kept on same pace straight, 5th of 13, 28l behind Sam Adams (11-3) at Limerick 2m 4f nh nov hdl gs in Apr.
Fortune's Fool 100-1 (10-5) Always in rear, never troubled leaders, 6th of 9, well behind Role On (11-9) at Sedgefield 2m 4f nov stks (4) gf in Apr.
Sheriff Hutton (IRE) 13-2 (11-12) Tracked clear leader, joined leader 6th, led next, ridden and headed last kept on same pace flat, 2nd of 8, 7l behind Solway Sunset (10-3) at Ayr 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-125 (3) gd in Apr.
Snake Charmer 16-1 (11-0) Held up, headway to chase leader 5 out, lost place 3 out, ridden and kept on same pace from next, 3rd of 9, 7l behind Font (11-0) at Haydock 2m 4f beg chase (3) gd.
Heavenly Chorus 11-1 (10-5) Held up, never on terms, 5th of 7, 26l behind Osolomio (10-12) at Sedgefield 2m 4f nov stks (4) gd in Apr.
Little Lu (IRE) 13-2 (11-9) Held up in rear, struggling from 7th, mistake 3 out, 5th of 8, 26l behind Ellerslie Tom (11-0) at Uttoxeter 2m hcp hdl 0-135 (3) gf in Apr.
Madge 150-1 (10-5) Mid-division, lost place halfway, tailed off from 3 out, 6th of 12, well behind Ingratitude (11-5) at Sedgefield 2m beg chase (4) gf in Apr.
Smoke And Mirrors 33-1 (11-4) Behind from 4th, ridden and struggling 3 out, tailed off when pulled up before next, in a race won by Tataniano (11-4) at Cheltenham 2m 1f nh nov hdl (2) gd in Apr, 9 ran.
