held up towards rear, hampered 5th, headway next, weakening when blundered 2 out
made all, soon clear, reduced advantage after 3 out, joined last, stayed on gamely to go clear towards finish
midd-division, hampered 5th, headway 4 out, weakened approaching 2 out
chased leaders, disputing 2nd when fell 5th
mid-division, mistake 8th, soon lost place, ralliled from 2 out, went 3rd last, no impression
not fluent 1st, always behind, tailed off
chased leaders, blundered 4th, chased winner who was clear 7th, closed when not fluent 3 out, every chance last, edged left flat, no extra towards finish
chased winner to 7th, weakened 4 out
held up towards rear, hampered 5th, headway 4 out, weakened approaching last
held up towards rear, hampered 2 out, never dangerous
held up in rear, hampered 5th, headway approaching 2 out, 4th and weakening when blundered last
Barton Sun ran better here earlier this month and has to be respected with Ferdy Murphy having his stable in good form now but he is hard to back with any confidence on ground this soft as all of his better form is on a faster surface and a better bet looks to be CARRIETAU, who gets the verdict ahead of Storm Surge. Martin Todhunter's gelding was good value for his win at Ayr when last seen in February when scoring by 15 lengths but a 13lb rise for that success makes this a tough task on his reappearance. Chris Wilson's Ormus has struggled against the handicapper since winning at Musselburgh in February and looks best watched with a bigger threat likely to come from Farne Island. Micky Hammond's gelding unseated his rider at the first fence two starts ago but ran better when chasing home Bob's Dream at Carlisle at the beginning of the month and he has to be respected. Cordier was well held on his reappearance but may do better on the softer surface today so he cannot be discounted, although a better bet looks to be Carrietau. Barry Murtagh's gelding has run consistently well in all three starts this term, latterly when a close second to Garleton at Hexham earlier this month and a reproduction of that effort may well suffice.
Ormus 11-1 (11-6) Led, ridden and headed 3 out, weakened approaching last, 6th of 7, 17l behind Crazy Bold (10-0) at Wetherby 2m hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gs in May.
Carrietau 8-1 (11-7) Raced keenly, led before 2nd, soon clear, ridden and headed before last, rallied flat, no extra towards finish, 2nd of 12, 4l behind Garleton (11-4) at Hexham 2m 4f cond hcp chs 0-105 (4) gs.
Norminster 18-1 (10-6) In touch, headway to go 2nd 7th, blundered and unseated rider next, in a race won by Bob's Dream (10-13) at Kelso 2m 1f hcp chs 0-115 (4) gs, 9 ran.
Storm Surge (IRE) 13-8fav (10-6) Made all, in command from 4 out, won at Ayr 2m nov hcp chs 0-115 (4) sft in Feb beating Toulouse Express (10-6) by 15l, 7 ran.
Farne Island 12-1 (11-1) Tracked leaders, hampered after 4 out, led next, headed approaching 2 out, no extra, 2nd of 11, 4 1/2l behind Bob's Dream (11-5) at Carlisle 2m nov hcp chs 0-105 (4) sft.
Maolisa (IRE) 33-1 (11-0) Towards rear, pushed along after 5th, soon behind, headway approaching 6th, weakened next, 8th of 10, well behind Currahee (11-3) at Cartmel 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) sft in May.
Cordier 14-1 (11-12) Held up, headway 3 out, one pace approaching last, 6th of 11, 14l behind Braddock Island (11-6) at Sedgefield 2m hcp chs 0-95 (5) gd.
Whatcanyasay 14-1 (11-7) Prominent, ridden and weakened last, 7th of 11, 15l behind Braddock Island (11-6) at Sedgefield 2m hcp chs 0-95 (5) gd.
Watch The Wind 8-1 (9-11) Towards rear, headway when mistake 6th, chasing leaders next, effort when blundered 3 out, not recover, 8th of 11, 37l behind Flaming Heck (10-1) at Hexham 2m hcp chs 0-105 (4) gd in May.
New Wish (IRE) 11-1 (10-8) Held up, headway 8th, chased leaders 3 out, weakened last, 10th of 12, 25l behind Silver Steel (11-9) at Kelso 2m 1f nov hcp chs 0-100 (4) gd in Oct.
Barton Sun (IRE) 12-1 (10-7) Held up, headway on inner after 3 out, ridden approaching last, kept on, 3rd of 11, 4 1/2l behind Braddock Island (11-6) at Sedgefield 2m hcp chs 0-95 (5) gd.
