in rear, not fluent, soon ridden along, behind 7th, headway on outside before 3 out, pressing for 2nd flat, no impression on winner
held up in rear, shaken up before 3 out, soon beaten
tracked leaders, went 2nd 7th until 3 out, weakened next
held up towards rear, headway 7th, led 3 out, wandered before drawing clear last, comfortably
led until before 5th, lost place 3 out, hung left before 2 out, well held after, went 4th towards finish
held up towards rear, hampered and unseated rider 7th
chased leaders, ridden 3 out, went 2nd next, no impression on winner from last, just held onto 2nd
tracked leader, led before 5th, headed 3 out, soon weakened
held up in mid-division on outside, mistake 6th, ridden 7th, soon closed, every chance 3 out, weakened flat, lost 4th towards finish
tracked leaders, fell 7th
NonRunner
Degooch and Purple 'n Gold are better known as chasers, though the latter didn't run badly over the smaller obstacles last time at Taunton. Stonemadforspeed missed a race at Sandown on Sunday on account of the ground but conditions here are likely to be similar. Hadfield has a touch of class and had a pipe-opener on the all-weather last month so is worth considering while Craig Star won at Kelso last month, though was struggling when unseating his rider on a return visit. ARTHUR'S GIFT was clear of the rest when second here last month. A 6lb rise looks harsh but he's only had the six career starts and can finally get off the mark today.
Hadfield (IRE) 8-1 (9-11) Always towards rear, 8th of 13, 11 3/4l behind Stanley (9-11) at Kempton 1m 4f mdn stks (5) pol in Oct.
Degooch (IRE) 5-1 (11-12) Towards rear, headway before 4 out, went 3rd and mistake 2 out, kept on same pace, 3rd of 8, 10 1/2l behind Nicolas Chauvin (11-4) at Wetherby 1m 7f hcp (3) gd in Oct.
Finula (IRE) 25-1 (11-10) In touch on outer, led 3rd, jinked right approaching 5th, narrow advantage when blundered and unseated rider soon after 3 out, at Warwick 2m 5f hcp (4) gd in May.
Arthur's Gift (IRE) 7-2fav (10-4) Held up towards rear, headway 5 out, chased leaders after next, edged left before 2 out, every chance last, kept on well, 2nd of 10, 2l behind Psychedelic Rock (10-12) at Worcester 2m 4f hcp (2) gd in Oct.
Stonemadforspeed (IRE) 6-1 (11-3) Led until after 1st, tracked leader, led before 4th, headed approaching 2 out, led briefly last, no extra final 75 yards, 3rd of 8, 4 3/4l behind Cobolobo (11-13) at Uttoxeter 2m 7f hcp (4) gd in Nov.
Purple 'n Gold (IRE) 33-1 (11-12) Held up towards rear, headway before 2 out, kept on run-in, 4th of 14, 4 3/4l behind Midnight Gypsy (10-0) at Taunton 2m 3f hcp (4) gf in Nov.
Pop Rockstar (IRE) 8-1 (11-8) Always towards rear, 8th of 10, 28 1/4l behind Derintoher Yank (11-10) at Bangor 2m 1f hcp (4) gs in Oct.
Bound Hill 10-3 (10-11) Led, headed 3 out, soon lost place, weakened and pulled up before next, at Kempton 2m 5f hcp (4) gd in May.
My Lad Percy 100-1 (10-0) Led after 1st, headed next, led again 5th, headed 2 out, weakened flat, 8th of 11, 32l behind Dark Spirit (11-6) at Cheltenham 3m hcp (2) gd in Oct.
Way Of The World (IRE) 20-1 (11-5) In rear, not fluent 1st, behind 7th, pulled up before next, at Worcester 2m 7f hcp (4) gf in May.
Craig Star (IRE) 9-2 (11-12) Tracked leaders, in 4th and looking held when mistake and unseated rider 2 out, at Kelso 2m hcp (4) gd in Oct.
