in touch, led 4out, headed 2 out, one pace
mid-division, ridden 5 out, soon well behind
tracked leaders, led 2 out, driven out
jumped right throughout, behind when refused 2 out
prominent, led 5 out, headed next, stayed on flat not reach winner
led, headed 5 out, soon behind
in rear, fell 8th
Mcmurrough is up 7lb for his recent win at Newcastle where he beat today's rival Whats Up Woody a couple of lengths. The latter is weighted to take revenge but both may find top weight MR SYNTAX too good. Tim Fitzgerald's charge finished a respectable third on his reappearance at Doncaster last month and won't need to improve much on that to go close in this. No Planning can be given a chance on his best form notably a second to Buck Mulligan at Sedgefield in November and he makes more appeal than Devotion To Duty though the latter is dropping back down into a more suitable grade today.
No Planning 9-2 (11-1) Tracked leaders in 3rd, went 2nd before 13th, until one pace before last, 3rd of 6, 6l behind Red Rocco (11-2) at Newcastle 3m Novice Handicap Chase (0-135) (4yo+) (3) hvy.
Devotion To Duty (IRE) 14-1 (10-3) Held up in 5th, slow and dropped to last at 2nd, went modest 4th 2 out, (normal 4 out), 4th of 6, 29l behind Douglas Julian (10-5) at Kelso 2m 7f hcp chs (2) sft.
McMurrough (IRE) 14-1 (11-12) With leaders, led and blundered 4 out, ridden last, kept on well, won at Newcastle 2m 4f hcp chs 0-115 (4) hvy beating Whats Up Woody (11-12) by 2 3/4l, 9 ran.
Tyrone House (IRE) 25-1 (11-8) Held up in touch, lost place 9th, tailed off 5 out, 12th of 14, well behind Isla Pearl Fisher (10-12) at Musselburgh 3m hcp chs 0-135 (3) gs.
Whats Up Woody (IRE) 9-1 (11-12) Led, headed 4 out, every chance before last, no extra run-in, 2nd of 9, 2 3/4l behind Mcmurrough (11-12) at Newcastle 2m 4f hcp chs 0-115 (4) hvy.
Pyracantha 11-1 (11-7) Tracked leaders, jumped slowly 5th, reminder after 6th, lost place next, pulled up before 8th, in a race won by Cool Operator (10-11) at Uttoxeter 2m 4f hcp chs 0-120 (4) sft in Nov, 7 ran.
Willie Hall 25-1 (11-3) Took keen hold towards rear, weakened 4 out, behind and pulled up approaching 2 out, in a race won by Makhzoon (11-7) at Perth 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-130 (3) sft in Jun, 10 ran.
Mr Syntax (IRE) 7-1 (11-10) Held up in touch, headway before 2 out, kept on same pace from last, 3rd of 6, 1 3/4l behind Kings Grey (11-12) at Doncaster 2m 3f hcp chs 0-130 (3) sft in Nov.
