in touch, outpaced 4 out, ridden next, kept on same pace 2 out, no impression
behind, mistake 3rd, struggling 7th, never dangerous
always behind
mid-division, outpaced 9th, soon ridden and beaten
in touch, mistake and rider lost iron 9th, chased winner after 3 out to before last, no extra
behind, blundered 4th and 6th, never dangerous
made all, driven 2 out, ridden and held on flat
chased winner to after 3 out, weakened from next
mid-division, headway under pressure 4 out, ridden next, chased winner between last 2, hit last, kept on flat
EBORARRY gets the vote but only just ahead of Flaming Heck and Digital Media in a wide open handicap chase. Tim Easterby's charge is a constant visitor to the winner's enclosure but usually and frustratingly, in the places. A solid jumper he has plenty of talent and just hasn't converted that in recent times. However he is now well below the mark he last won off and with out a mistake at the last on his last outing he may well have scored. Of these he looks to be best treated and the long wait for a win could be over. Flaming Heck is a course and distance winner but that came way back in January 2006. He was a winner on his last trip to a racecourse at Hexham over this trip in bottomless ground but he has been raised for that effort and with him so exposed it is difficult to see where the improvement will come from to land this - if he can find the extra though he has chances. Digital Media has flopped on his last two attempts at chasing but got his confidence back with a solid display over hurdles last time. He's off a really competitive mark here and a any sort of return to the performance that had him scoring on his chasing debut in Feburary will have him in the picture. Carrieteau looks like he'll have to wait for relief from the handicapper before scoring but could well place so the vote belongs to Eborarry.
Carrietau 14-1 (11-12) Tracked leaders, every chance 4 out, ridden and weakened from 2 out, 4th of 8, 33l behind Run To Space (10-13) at Kelso 2m 1f nov hcp chs 0-115 (4) sft.
Flaming Heck 11-2 (11-7) Disputed lead until led approaching 2 out, soon clear, won at Hexham 2m hcp chs 0-105 (4) hvy in May beating Stoneriggs Merc (11-0) by 29l, 5 ran.
First Fought (IRE) 25-1 (10-10) Towards rear, struggling from 8th, 8th of 10, well behind Silly Wupple (11-7) at Hexham 2m 4f hcp chs 0-110 (4) sft in Oct.
Digital Media (IRE) 8-1 (11-4) Prominent, went 2nd approaching 2 out, no impression on winner, 2nd of 14, 9l behind Miss Tarantella (9-11) at Hexham 2m hcp hdl 0-95 (5) hvy.
Eborarry (IRE) 7-1 (10-13) Led, headed 2 out, weakened when hit last, 3rd of 12, 12l behind Chigorin (11-0) at Wetherby 2m 4f hcp chs 0-105 (4) gs.
Bright Sparky (GER) 17-2 (11-5) Mid-division, ridden and outpaced 7th, soon beaten, 10th of 17, well behind Stravaigin (10-11) at Newcastle 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-95 (5) gd in Mar.
Stormy Beech 20-1 (10-5) Led, ridden and headed approaching 2 out, kept on same pace, no chance with winner, 2nd of 8, 7l behind Wot Way Chief (11-11) at Newcastle 2m hcp chs 0-115 (4) gs.
Cedar Rapids (IRE) 16-1 (9-9) Led, ridden and headed last, no impression flat, 2nd of 10, 10l behind Blast The Past (11-1) at Sedgefield 2m hcp chs 0-110 (4) gs.
Whatcanyasay 8-1 (9-12) Held up, ridden 5th, never on terms, 6th of 10, 34l behind Blast The Past (11-1) at Sedgefield 2m hcp chs 0-110 (4) gs.
Mystic Glen 20-1 (10-13) Tracked leaders, joined leaders 10th, ridden after 5 out, weakened approaching 3 out, 7th of 15, 44l behind Ngong Hills (11-8) at Wetherby 2m 6f hcp chs 0-90 (5) frm in Oct.