held up, badly hampered 10th and unseated rider
held up mid-division, chased leaders approaching 4 out, weakened approaching next
held up in rear, weakened after 11th
chased leaders, went 2nd 3 out, ridden approaching last, led flat
towards rear, hampered 10th, ridden after 5 out, weakened next
led until fell 10th
held up, mistake 3rd, badly hampered 10th, weakened 5 out
held up, stumbled and fell after 4th
behind, brought down after 4th
chased leader, left in lead 10th, headed after last, kept on
chased leaders, one pace 2 out
held up mid-division, chased leaders approaching 4 out, blundered next, held in 7th when fell last
Niall Moran's Rakamasi won well enough when successful at Thurles earlier this month but a hefty rise for that win makes an attempt to follow up that victory tough and preference is for VIEL GLUCK, who gets the vote ahead of Lahib The Fifth. The last mentioned has been hard to win with for Nicky Richards but came good when a narrow winner at Kelso last month. A 6lb rise since that win found the nine-year-old out on a return to the same venue subsequently and he looks booked for place at best off the same mark today. James Moffatt's Dar Es Salaam made a pleasing return to hurdles when a good third behind Zabeel Palace at Ascot last month and both have to be respected here. Chris Grant's Braddock Island may struggle off a 6lb higher mark than when successful at Sedgefield recently on the slower ground today but makes more appeal than Howard Johnson's lightly raced Blacks Bridge, who needs to improve on all known form to get involved at the finish. The vote then goes the way of Viel Gluck, who has run to a consistent level of form of late and comes from the yard of Ferdy Murphy that is in good form right now.
Lahib The Fifth (IRE) 8-1 (11-0) Hampered 1st, behind, headway 3 out, led after last, ridden and headed well over 1f out, no extra, 3rd of 10, 8l behind Waterski (10-4) at Kelso 3m 1f nov hcp chs 0-110 (4) gs.
Blacks Bridge (IRE) 7-1 (11-2) Tracked leaders, led 3rd, headed 4 out, regained lead 3 out, headed 2 out, soon weakened, 9th of 12, well behind Teviot Lass (10-2) at Carlisle 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gd in Oct.
Storm Prospect 9-1 (10-10) Behind, outpaced when mistake 3 out, never dangerous, 5th of 9, 33l behind Bob's Dream (10-13) at Kelso 2m 1f hcp chs 0-115 (4) gs.
Rakamasi 5-1fav (9-7) Soon chased leaders, closer in 4th 7 out, led approaching 4 out, joined 2 out, soon led again and clear approaching last, tired and reduced lead close home, kept on, won at Thurles 2m 2f hcp chs 0-109 sft beating Spring The Que (11-12) by 2l, 14 ran.
Dar Es Salaam 10-1 (10-1) Chased leaders, awkward 3 out, ridden to lead narrowly 2 out, kept narrow advantage until headed and not pace of winner flat and soon lost 2nd, 3rd of 9, 4 1/2l behind Zabeel Palace (10-8) at Ascot 2m 3f nov hcp hdl 0-120 (3) gd in Oct.
Viel Gluck (IRE) 11-2 (11-12) Held up, chased leaders approaching 4 out, not fluent last, one pace, 3rd of 11, 7l behind Simply Smashing (11-5) at Carlisle 3m hcp chs 0-95 (5) gd in Oct.
Braddock Island 16-1 (11-6) Close up, led 8th, ridden approaching last, kept on well, won at Sedgefield 2m hcp chs 0-95 (5) gd beating Mischief Man (10-10) by 2l, 11 ran.
Skipping Chapel 25-1 (11-9) Held up, mistake 9th, weakened from 12th, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out, in a race won by Whatcanyasay (10-7) at Sedgefield 2m 4f hcp chs 0-105 (4) sft in Dec, 10 ran.
Clarricien (IRE) 16-1 (11-11) Held up mid-division, weakened 4 out, 9th of 11, 18l behind Braddock Island (11-6) at Sedgefield 2m hcp chs 0-95 (5) gd.
Daraybad (FR) 16-1 (11-7) Held up, outpaced 4 out, weakened next, 6th of 7, 36l behind Take It There (11-12) at Market Rasen 2m 4f hcp chs 0-95 (5) hvy.
Persian Prince (IRE) 11-4fav (10-10) Led to 8th, weakened 3 out, 8th of 11, 16l behind Braddock Island (11-6) at Sedgefield 2m hcp chs 0-95 (5) gd.
Janal (IRE) 28-1 (10-9) Always behind, 9th of 11, 33l behind Duke of Malfi (11-2) at Hexham 2m hcp chs 0-95 (5) gs.
More Shennanigans 6-1 (9-9) Mid division, under pressure 4 out, never on terms, 3rd of 11, 11l behind Bob's Dream (11-5) at Carlisle 2m nov hcp chs 0-105 (4) sft.
