towards rear, lost touch halfway, tailed off when pulled up before 14th
towards rear, weakened halfway, tailed off and pulled up before 14th
towards rear, soon lost touch, tailed off when pulled up before 11th
tracked leader, led 5th, headed 3 out, disputing 4th and held when blundered and unseated rider next
soon behind, tailed off when pulled up before 10th
tracked leaders, pushed along approaching 3 out, ridden and disputing 4th when blundered and unseated rider 2 out
in touch, pushed along 14th, outpaced 4 out
mid-division, headway 14th, went 2nd approaching 2 out, challenged after last, held towards finish
in touch, headway 3 out, effort when not fluent next, one pace under pressure
led to 5th, led again approaching 3 out, hard pressed flat, stayed on strongly towards finish
not fluent, always in rear
This should not take a great deal of winning and a chance is taken with Snowy, who gets the vote ahead of Nomadic Blaze and Rutledge Red. The last mentioned was probably the best of these over hurdles but Malcolm Jefferson's gelding has yet to show that he is as effective over the larger obstacles, disappointing again at Wetherby last time. Former hunter Roman Way has shown ability and merits respect along with Lucinda Russell's Winter Garden, who has run well enough in handicaps in his last two starts. Winning pointer Peppernick is an interesting contender on his rules debut and cannot be dismissed entirely although a bigger threat may come from Nomadic Blaze, who showed improved form when chasing home the useful Tom Fruit at Sedgefield last month. A reproduction of that effort would see the eight-year-old go close but preference is for Snowy. Andrew Parker's gelding made an encouraging chase debut, following a three-month break, when a close third behind A Few Bob Back at Carlisle last month and a similar effort today would make the seven-year-old tough to beat.
Carraig Brol (IRE) 100-1 Mid-division, blundered 6th and 7th, behind when pulled up 5 out in race won by The Nomad at Hexham 2m nov chs (E) sft in Apr '04, 10 ran.
Glendevon Grey 33-1 Held up in rear and pulled hard, weakened from 11th, tailed off, last of 5, well behind A Few Bob Back at Carlisle 3m nov chs (C) gs in Mar.
Minster Brig 100-1 Tracked leader, disputed lead after 6th, lost place 8th, soon weakened, behind when pulled up 3 out in race won by See You There at Carlisle 3m nh nov hdl (E) gs in Mar, 8 ran.
Nomadic Blaze 20-1 Led, blundered 5th, ridden and headed last, kept on to chase winner flat, 2nd of 9, 2 1/2l behind Tom Fruit at Sedgefield 2m 5f beg chs (E) hvy in Mar.
Peppernick 5-2 2nd of 6, nk behind Rainha at Alnwick 3m ptp gd in Apr '04.
Roman Way 10-1 Chased leaders, led 6th, headed approaching 3 out, beaten when mistake last, 3rd of 11, 7l behind Dumadic at Catterick 3m 1f nov hcp chs 0-100 (E) gd in Mar.
Rutledge Red (IRE) 11-1 In touch, lost place 11th, tailed off and pulled up 5 out in race won by Manbow at Wetherby 3m 1f nov hcp chs 0-105 (E) gs in Mar, 9 ran.
Snowy (IRE) 4-1 Held up, headway to chase leaders approaching 7th, ridden approaching 3 out, kept on same pace, 3rd of 5, 7l behind A Few Bob Back at Carlisle 3m nov chs (C) gs in Mar.
The Sleeper 33-1 Tracked leaders, lost place 11th, tailed off when pulled up 3 out in race won by Kidithou at Ayr 3m 1f beg chs (E) gs in Mar, 9 ran.
Winter Garden 12-1 Held up in touch, headway 6th, ridden 3 out, weakened next, last of 7, 36l behind Northern Minster at Carlisle 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-110 (E) hvy in Mar.
Missoudun (FR) 25-1 Held up and always towards rear, 5th of 9, 19l behind Tom Fruit at Sedgefield 2m 5f beg chs (E) hvy in Mar.
