with leader until 10th, lost place from 5 out
tracked leaders in 3rd, went 2nd from 10th, led before last, kept on
led, ridden before 2 out, headed before last, kept on same pace
in touch in 4th, mistake 7 out, soon struggling
in rear, pushed along before 6th, reminders halfway, never dangerous, pulled up
Flaming Thistle is now a teenager and is 9lb higher than when scoring easily at Hexham in April. He may just need this but Newtown Lad stepped into better company at Chepstow after his Uttoxeter victory and performed with credit. Whiskey Chaser completed a double in extreme condition in March and is better than he showed on his comeback at Hexham last month but The Orange Rogue has run all of his best races at Newcastle including a victory there in April. NORTONTHORPELEGEND jumps and stays well as he has shown in his last two runs at Sedgefield and Catterick. He's up another 7lb but looks progressive enough to defy the extra.
Newtown Lad (IRE) 8-1 (10-6) Prominent, led narrowly after 5 out to next, soon lost place, ridden before last, kept on same pace, 8th of 10, 5 1/4l behind Sykes (10-13) at Chepstow 3m hcp (3) gd in Dec.
Nortonthorpelegend (IRE) 11-8fav (10-13) Always handy, not fluent 12th, led after 3 out, driven out, won at Catterick 3m 1f hcp (4) gd in Nov beating Bonzo Bing (10-11) by 3 1/2l, 9 ran.
Whiskey Chaser (IRE) 11-2 (11-3) Tracked leaders, weakened before 11th, tailed off, pulled up before last, at Hexham 2m 6f hcp (4) hvy in Dec.
The Orange Rogue (IRE) 20-1 (11-2) Held up mid-division, mistake 8th, ridden before 3 out, weakened 2 out, 7th of 14, 15 3/4l behind Revocation (11-10) at Newcastle 2m 4f hcp (4) sft in Nov.
Flaming Thistle (IRE) 9-2 (11-6) Led until 3rd, prominent, led 12th, 4 lengths clear last, stayed on, ridden out, won at Hexham 3m hcp (5) hvy in Apr beating Maz Majecc (10-7) by 8l, 8 ran.
