always towards rear
chased leaders, weakened from 5 out
tracked leaders in 3rd, lost place after 6th, soon reminders, headway after 3 out, plugged on one pace, never dangerous
prominent, challenged before 2 out, led before last, headed run-in, kept on
soon led, ridden and headed before last, no extra
held up towards rear, headway 6 out, weakened before 2 out
led early, chased leader, ridden before 2 out, weakened before last
towards rear, headway 7 out, went 2nd before last, led run-in, kept on well
in rear, headway from 2 out, in 5th before last, no impression
held up mid-division, reminders halfway, pulled up before 2 out
prominent, reminders halfway, weakened from 7 out, pulled up
Winter Alchemy won this last year and Chicago Outfit and Saddle Pack are also previous course winners but the latter pair were behind West Ship Master when the top weight finished second to Resolute Performer at Hexham last month and might struggle to turn the tables. Paul Stafford's 11-year-old is striving to break his duck over fences at the 25th attempt, however, and we just prefer veteran OXALIDO. Stuart Coltherd's gelding beat My Friend George and Saddle Pack at Hexham in March and his latest second to See The Legend at Perth suggests he retains the ability to land a contest like this.
West Ship Master (IRE) 9-1 (11-1) In touch, ridden before 4 out, headway before 3 out, led before last, headed last, kept on and held towards finish, 2nd of 18, 1l behind Resolute Reformer (11-8) at Hexham 3m 1f hcp chs 0-100 (5) gd in Apr.
Oxalido (FR) 25-1 (10-4) Towards rear, headway before 2 out, kept on towards finish, 2nd of 16, 3l behind See The Legend (10-0) at Perth 3m am hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gs in Apr.
Silent Snow (IRE) 100-1 (10-8) Tracked leaders, lost place before 4th, not fluent when behind 6th, tailed off next, pulled up after, in a race won by Five O'clock Tea (11-7) at Perth 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-100 (5) gd in Apr, 17 ran.
Winter Alchemy (IRE) 16-1 (10-8) Mid-division, pushed along after 10th, struggling in rear, soon pulled up, in a race won by Basford Ben (11-12) at Carlisle 3m 2f hcp chs 0-105 (4) sft in Apr, 10 ran.
Chicago Outfit (IRE) 28-1 (10-12) Tracked leaders, ridden before last, one pace and no impression, 5th of 18, 11l behind Resolute Reformer (11-8) at Hexham 3m 1f hcp chs 0-100 (5) gd in Apr.
Pistol Basc (FR) 16-1 (11-1) Chased leaders, lost place and ridden 11th, behind when pulled up before 2 out, in a race won by My Friend George (10-6) at Sedgefield 2m 4f hcp chs 0-100 (5) gs in Apr, 13 ran.
Brokethegate 12-1 (10-7) Led 1st, headed before 5 out, weakened next, pulled up before 3 out, in a race won by Highlander Ted (10-6) at Newcastle 3m hcp chs 0-105 (4) gs in Mar, 12 ran.
My Friend George 4-1 (10-4) With leader, led 8th, headed 2 out, weakened last, 2nd of 13, 9l behind Courtown Oscar (11-3) at Carlisle 3m 1f hcp hdl 0-100 (5) gs in Apr.
Saddle Pack (IRE) 25-1 (10-1) Behind, some headway from 3 out, no impression, 7th of 18, 20l behind Resolute Reformer (11-8) at Hexham 3m 1f hcp chs 0-100 (5) gd in Apr.
War On (IRE) 50-1 (11-7) Led, headed before 13th, ridden and weakened before 3 out, 6th of 8, well behind Beggar's Velvet (11-11) at Hexham 3m 1f hts chs (6) gd in Apr.
Ultiep (FR) 66-1 (9-7) Mid-division, mistakes 4th and 5th, ridden after 9th, towards rear when fell 12th, in a race won by Whiskey Chaser (10-11) at Carlisle 2m 5f 5yo nov hcp (4) sft in Mar, 13 ran.
