held up in rear, headway approaching 5th, led on bit 2 out, not extended
in touch, lost place after 8th, mistake next, modest 6th when pulled up quickly after 3 out
soon back in mid-division, in rear and niggled along 5th, hampered 10th, headway approaching 3 out, stayed on to take 2nd towards finish, no chance with winner
prominent, took keen hold, not fluent 8th, weakened after 10th, tailed off when pulled up before last
mid-division on outside, pushed along 8th, struggling after 10th
prominent, took keen hold, saddle soon slipped, with leader when pulled up before 2nd
held up towards rear, not fluent 10th, blundered last, never in contention
not fluent and ridden 7th, always in rear, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out
mid-division, pushed along before 8th, effort under pressure 10th, weakened approaching 3 out
led until 8th, still upsides when blundered and unseated rider 10th
always prominent, led 8th, headed 2 out, no chance with winner when hung right and lost 2nd towards finish
held up in rear, not fluent 1st, headway before 7th, left 2nd 10th until not fluent 3 out, not fluent next, no extra last
mid-division, took keen hold, headway approaching 2nd, hampered 10th, soon weakened, tailed off when pulled up before last
mid-division, headway 3rd, weakened approaching 3 out
Flying Doctor comes into this in good form after wins here and at Hexham followed by a good second at Aintree last time but a 6lb rise for the latest of those outings makes this tougher for the seven-year-old and a better bet looks to be RUSTY RED, who is preferred to Finbin. Harry Hogarth's gelding won well at Hexham earlier this month but an 8lb rise for that win looks harsh so he may have to settle for minor honours today. Miss Tarantella is strictly held by Flying Doctor on running last time, while Carmela Maria has run to a consistent level of form but she could probably do with some help from the handicapper. Micky Hammond's I See A Star has won a point-to-point and a hunter chase and could be of interest on his hurdling debut, while Fly Tipper is readily discounted having been below par since his return last year, having shown better form in 2006. The verdict then goes the way of Chris Grant's Rusty Red, who was good value for his win over fences at Market Rasen last month and he looks worth siding with back over hurdles off just a 5lb higher mark.
Flying Doctor 10-3 (10-10) Chased leaders, hit 3 out, chased winner approaching next, kept on from last, always held, 2nd of 15, 4l behind Boyoboy (10-11) at Aintree 3m hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gd.
Rusty Red (IRE) 11-8fav (10-2) Held up towards rear, went 2nd after 4 out, led last, kept on, driven out, won at Market Rasen 3m 1f hcp chs 0-115 (4) gd in Apr beating Phoenix Des Mottes (10-3) by 1 3/4l, 5 ran.
Finbin (IRE) 12-1 (11-4) In touch, went 2nd 4 out, challenged when mistake next, led 2 out, soon ridden, stayed on well under pressure flat (no time taken), won at Hexham 3m 1f hcp chs 0-95 (5) gs beating Shulmin (10-0) by 6l, 12 ran.
I See A Star 9-4fav (11-4) Chased leaders, hit 11th, soon reminders, hit 13th, weakened from 4 out, 7th of 11, 42l behind Star Beat (11-8) at Catterick 3m 1f nov hcp chs 0-100 (4) gd in Mar.
Carmela Maria 11-1 (10-11) Tracked leader, led 3rd, headed 7th, weakened approaching 3 out, 9th of 16, 45l behind Legion D'honneur (11-9) at Huntingdon 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gs.
Miss Tarantella 10-1 (10-9) Towards rear, headway into mid-division, 6th, tracked leaders 4 out, led narrowly before next, soon headed, weakened 2 out, 3rd of 16, 29l behind Flying Doctor (9-13) at Wetherby 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-100 (4) gd.
Insignia (IRE) 25-1 (10-13) Led headed 4 out, soon ridden, weakened before next, 10th of 14, well behind House Of Bourbon (10-8) at Uttoxeter 2m 6f sll hdl (4-8yo) (5) gf.
Maclean 10-1 (9-9) Held up, blundered 3rd, stayed on approaching 2 out, pressing for places when blundered and unseated rider last, in a race won by Desperate Dex (10-0) at Huntingdon 2m hcp chs 0-105 (4) sft in Dec, 11 ran.
General Simara 50-1 (10-13) Towards rear, outpaced from 5 out, 8th of 14, 42l behind Glen Rouge (10-5) at Uttoxeter 3m cnd hcp hdl 0-95 (5) gf in Apr.
Humourous (IRE) 10-1 (10-0) In touch on outside, outpaced 8th, ridden and weakened after 4 out, behind when pulled up before next, in a race won by Flying Doctor (9-13) at Wetherby 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-100 (4) gd, 16 ran.
Cute N You Know It 12-1 (10-0) Chased leaders, lost place 7th, weakened 4 out, tailed off when pulled up before next, in a race won by Flying Doctor (9-13) at Wetherby 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-100 (4) gd, 16 ran.
Fly Tipper 40-1 (9-7) Held up towards rear,headway and reminders approaching 7th, weakened from 4 out, 4th of 11, 50l behind Jurisdiction (11-3) at Kelso 2m 6f nov hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gd.
Fortune's Fool 100-1 (9-8) Prominent and raced keen, weakened from 3 out, 7th of 8, 40l behind Calzaghe (11-8) at Market Rasen 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-95 (5) sft in Nov.
Rosie Larkin (IRE) 100-1 (10-6) Mid-division, outpaced 4 out, weakened from next, 8th of 14, well behind House Of Bourbon (10-8) at Uttoxeter 2m 6f sll hdl (4-8yo) (5) gf.
