mid-division, ridden 4 out, 3rd and one pace from next
prominent, ridden and weakened 3 out
led, headed 5th, tailed off and pulled up 2 out
in rear, ridden 6th, well behind when pulled up before 2 out
in rear, tailed off when pulled up and dismounted after 3 out
held up, ridden 6th, tailed off, pulled up before 8th
held up, blundered 3rd, tailed off from 2 out
mid-division, headway 3 out, kept on from 2 out, no chance with winner
tracked leaders, led 5th, stayed on well from 2 out
tracked leaders, ridden and weakened 3 out
mid-division, kept on one pace from 3 out
steadied start, ridden 6th, tailed off and pulled up before 8th
tracked leaders, lost place 7th, tailed off
always behind, tailed off, pulled up 2 out
tracked leaders, lost place 7th, pulled up before 2 out
Quite an open heat for the stayers where HONEST JOHN might just come into his own over this trip and is preferred to Battle Stations, Artist's Return and Gee Dee Nen. The selection looks well treated at the weights here and is open to plenty of improvement. There would be some concern if the ground got genuinely soft, as he seems to prefer it better than that, but he ran last time as if needing further and he can get it right now his stamina is fully called into play. Battle Stations was an Aintree winner when last seen out in June and he has some solid form in this company. He does have to contend with a seven month absence and if fit enough he can go close to defying a penalty. Artist's Return won a Tipperary handicap chase last summer but was going to be well beaten off a 22lb higher mark last time before unseating. He won't mind the ground and if the market speaks for him he will probably be one to fear now switched back to hurdles. Arctic Ghost makes the same switch and represents a yard in form and has first-time blinkers applied, so over a trip he sees out he is respected. Easby Park is useful but appears to prefer a sound surface, and he has a bit to find at the weights. Gee Dee Nen is another Jim Best inmate making the long trip north and is rated highly enough on the flat to have a big say here, if taking to the hurdles on his debut in this sphere. He is given plenty of respect, but we will take Honest John to score.
Battle Stations 8-1 (10-12) Led, headed 7th, ridden approaching 3 out, rallied last, stayed on gamely to lead towards finish, won at Aintree 2m 4f nov hdl (4) gd in Jun beating Chevy To The Levy (11-12) by 3 1/2l, 6 ran.
Easby Park 18-1 (11-5) Chased leaders, led after 3 out, headed approaching 2 out, 10 lengths down in 2nd when hit last, 2nd of 8, 18l behind Tot Of The Knar (11-12) at Sedgefield 2m 5f nh nov hdl (4) sft in Dec.
Arctic Ghost 12-1 (10-10) Always behind, weakened from 10th and pulled up at the 12th in race won by Jeringa (10-5) at Wetherby 2m 6f hcp chs 0-115 (4) gs in Nov, 13 ran.
Artist's Return (IRE) 33-1 (10-12) Held up in rear, mistake 3rd, under pressure 6th, blundered and unseated rider at the 9th in race won by By George (10-7) at Huntingdon 2m 4f hcp chs 0-115 (4) gd in Nov, 12 ran.
Bishops Ploy (IRE) 50-1 (11-0) Mid-division, ridden approaching 3 out, soon one pace, 5th of 14, 18l behind Fortysecond Street (11-0) at Musselburgh 2m 4f mdn hdl (5) gd in Dec.
Brecks Lane 16-1 (11-2) Prominent to halfway, soon behind, tailed off, 9th of 12, well behind Lie Forrit (11-2) at Hexham 2m nhf (6) hvy in Nov.
Dee Cee Bolter (IRE) 150-1 (10-13) Mid-division, headway and in touch 6th, outpaced after 4 out, no impression from next, 5th of 11, 15l behind Lie Forrit (11-1) at Ayr 2m 4f nov hdl (4) sft.
Gee Dee Nen 6-1 (10-9) Mid-division, kept on from 3 out, 6th of 16, 19l behind River Logic (11-12) at Market Rasen 2m 1f 4yo nov hdl (4) gs in Mar '07.
Honest John Evensfav (10-12) In touch, chased leader after 4 out until 3 out, left 2nd next, no chance with winner, 2nd of 21, 17l behind Kangaroo Court (10-9) at Doncaster 2m 3f nh nov hdl (4) gd in Dec.
Ifandbutwhy (IRE) (12-0) won at Lingstown 3m ire ptp sft in Nov beating Mountain Heather (11-9) by 4l, 7 ran.
Pressman 80-1 (10-12) Chased leader until weakened 7th, tailed off when pulled up 2 out in race won by On Raglan Road (10-12) at Hexham 3m nov hdl (4) gs in Oct, 8 ran.
Pryderi de Kerion (FR) 66-1 (10-9) Led until headed halfway, ridden and weakened over 4f out, 14th of 18, 44l behind Present Gesture (10-9) at Perth 2m nhf (5) gd in Jun.
Triton 50-1 (10-12) Tracked leaders, mistake 7th, led briefly after 3 out, one pace from next, 3rd of 8, 19l behind Tot Of The Knar (11-12) at Sedgefield 2m 5f nh nov hdl (4) sft in Dec.
Chamerion 66-1 (10-10) Mid-division, blundered 2nd, effort approaching 4 out, lost touch next, 9th of 11, well behind Just Posh (10-7) at Sedgefield 2m 4f mrs nov hdl (4) sft in Dec.
Mountain Fairy 125-1 (10-10) Held up towards rear, weakened before 7th, tailed off when pulled up 4 out in race won by King Ar Aghaidh (11-6) at Fakenham 2m 4f mdn hdl (4) gs, 13 ran.
Quoquille Des Sacart (FR) 50-1 (10-5) Chased leaders, effort and every chance 2f out, no extra, 3rd of 12, 6l behind Diklers Oscar (10-9) at Haydock 2m mrs nhf (5) gf in Nov.
