held up, mistake 4th, headay 6th, challenged 3 out, led before last, ridden and stayed on well to come clear flat
in rear, reminder and outpaced 9th, well behind from 13th, pulled up after
held up, not fluent 1st or 6th, closed 10th, lost place 12th, headway 3 out, no impression after next, one pace
tracked leaders, lost place before 12th, closed before 3 out, soon beaten
led, ridden and headed approaching last, no impression on winner flat, lost 2nd towards finish
tracked leader until 3 out, stayed on same pace approaching last, went 2nd towards finish, no impression on winner
chased leaders, fell 3rd
chased leaders, ridden after 12th, lost place next, soon behind, pulled up before last
held up in rear, not fluent 3rd, jumped left 5th, not fluent 10th, headway after 11th, challenged 13th, weakened after 2 out, tailed off
Quite a few arrive in decent form from the pointing arena, including Current Exchange, who also rallied well to land a hunter chase at Leicester on his last start under Rules last month. A strong performance is anticipated but narrow preference is for course and distance winner, SPECIAL PORTRAIT. The likable grey put a disappointing Kelso effort behind him when a battling second to Sacred Mountain at Sedgefield latest and a repeat of that run puts him bang in the picture here. Course and distance winner Ocarina looks best of the Alexander pair but has something to find with the aforementioned duo, whilst Page One Two Nine, winner of two of the last four points, also warrants respect.
Current Exchange (IRE) 4-5 (12-7) Hdwy 7; led aft 15; comf, won at Teme Valley 3m ptp gs in Mar beating Melt The Silver (12-0) by 3 1/2l, 7 ran.
Special Portrait (IRE) 4-1 (12-3) Held up towards rear, mistake 4th, headway 6 out, went 3rd 4 out, every chance last, kept on and held towards finish, 2nd of 8, 2l behind Sacred Mountain (12-4) at Sedgefield 3m 3f hts chs (6) sft.
Back On The Road (IRE) 4-1 (12-5) Held up; prog 14; led aft 3 out til hdd & unable qckn flat, 2nd of 5, 3/4l behind Buckstruther (12-5) at Duke of Buccleuch's 3m ptp gd in Mar.
Ocarina (FR) 3-1 (12-5) (cp) ap; led 3 out til hdd aft nxt; one pce, 2nd of 5, 4l behind Splendid Blue (12-5) at Berwickshire 3m ptp gs in Mar.
A New Rising (IRE) 8-1 (12-5) Held up; gd prog aft 14; nt rch wnr, 2nd of 5, 4l behind The Brig At Ayr (12-5) at Berwickshire 3m ptp gs in Mar.
Douglas Julian 66-1 (12-0) Towards rear and pushed along, never dangerous, tailed off, 11th of 21, well behind Warne (12-0) at Aintree 2m 5f hts chs (2) gd.
Page One Two Nine (IRE) 5-2 (12-3) Ap; led aft 14; stayed on wl, won at Berwickshire 3m ptp gs in Mar beating Captain Americo (12-0) by 4l, 11 ran.
Pen Gwen (FR) 22-1 (10-4) Prominent, led before 5th until next, jumped slowly and lost place 7th, behind 9th, soon pulled up, in a race won by Baileys Concerto (11-12) at Hexham 2m 4f hcp chs 0-100 (5) sft in Mar, 10 ran.
Radharc Na Mara (IRE) 3-1 (11-4) Close up, led after 1st, clear 4th, blundered 2 out, headed and weakened before last, 4th of 8, 26l behind Sacred Mountain (12-4) at Sedgefield 3m 3f hts chs (6) sft.
