raced wide, led to 8th, led again 3 out, pressed 2 out, kept on well from last
tracked leaders in rear, blundered 6th, mistake next, soon pulled up
towards rear and in touch, outpaced and not fluent 9th, weakened after 3 out
tracked winner, joined winner 3rd, led 8th, every chance 2 out, held when mistake last, kept on
Nonrunner
There wouldn't have been much between BEST BOY BARNEY and Catch Tammy over hurdles but Jeremy Scott's seven-year-old has the more recent form and can take advantage of his likely market rival's recent absence to make a winning start over the larger obstacles. Coin River, Conigre and High Ron have all been contesting point-to-points with the former proving the most successful lately. Neverownup was very modest over timber, however, and Northwold is likely to need this.
Catch Tammy (IRE) 20-1 (11-8) Mid-division, outpaced 3 out, soon weakened, 12th of 17, well behind Bobowen (11-3) at Uttoxeter 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-120 (4) gd in Jul.
Coin River (IRE) 6-4 (12-0) (tt) hdwy 11; led 3 out; easy, won at Seavington 2m 4f ptp gd in Apr beating Miss Cupcake (11-7) by 8l, 13 ran.
Conigre 18-1 (11-12) Mid-division, headway approaching 7th, ridden 3 out, stayed on same pace last, 4th of 13, 8l behind My Lad Percy (11-4) at Worcester 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-100 (5) gd.
High Ron 14-1 (12-0) Hdwy 8; wknd 13; to & pu 3 out, in a race won by Sous Mix (12-0) at Garthorpe 3m ptp gf in May '12, 9 ran.
Best Boy Barney (IRE) 9-2 (11-0) Led, pushed along after 4 out, headed before 3 out, soon weakened, 4th of 8, 30l behind Ballyculla (11-0) at Ffos Las 3m mdn hdl (5) gs in Apr.
Neverownup (IRE) 14-1 (11-12) Took keen hold towards rear, ridden and struggling 4 out, never involved, 8th of 13, 24l behind Golden Games (10-8) at Plumpton 2m 2f hcp hdl 0-95 (5) gd in Apr.
Northwold 40-1 (10-8) Held up towards rear, weakened after 7th, soon detached and struggling, 12th of 15, 25l behind Easement (11-9) at Taunton 3m hcp hdl 0-90 (5) gs in Feb '11.