mid-division, pushed along 5 out, soon ridden, beaten
led to 2nd, remained prominent, weakened 5 out
led 2nd, made rest, stayed on strongly flat
soon towards rear, weakened halfway, tailed off, pulled up before 4 out
chased leaders, pushed along 13th, brief effort after 5 out, soon outpaced
mid-division, headway at 10th, chased winner 13th, until no extra flat
towards rear, headway, in touch 5th, effort 4 out, soon outpaced, rallied approaching last, stayed on to chase winner near finish
held up in rear, headway 8th, weakened quickly next, tailed off when pulled up before 6 out
towards rear, pushed along 5 out, weakened before next, behind when pulled up before 3 out
Some old favourites contend here including Lord O¿All Seasons and Imps Way but the vote goes to the David Easterby trained Reasonably Sure. The selection looked a promising novice last year for Oliver Sherwood with some decent form in novice hurdles and if fit he will be sure to be thereabouts. Of his rivals Imps Way looks the main danger. He won twice around Hexham last year which proves he has staying ability and again if fit he can go well. Lord O¿All Seasons has been around a while and he showed last year that he still holds onto some ability but the fact that he has only been into the winners once from nine starts under rules so far so he is one to treat with caution. So for the winner we return to Reasonably Sure.
Raiseapearl 40-1 (11-7) In rear when unseated rider at the 6th in race won by Denvale (11-11) at Wetherby 3m 1f hts chs (6) sft, 10 ran.
Red Rampage 9-1 (11-2) Mid-division, pushed along after 13th, soon weakened, 5th of 12, well behind Gallik Dawn (10-6) at Uttoxeter 3m 2f hcp chs 0-110 (E) gd in May.
The Butterwick Kid 15-2 (11-11) Led to 6th, weakened approaching 3 out, 5th of 10, 18l behind Denvale (11-11) at Wetherby 3m 1f hts chs (6) sft.
El Lute (IRE) 6-1 (12-5) 4th of 11, 22l behind Colonel Ludlow (12-5) at Garthorpe 3m ptp gd in May.
Kilcaskin Gold (IRE) 8-1 (12-5) 3rd of 11, 11l behind A Boy Named Sioux (12-0) at Alnwick 3m ptp gd in Jan.
Lord O'All Seasons (IRE) 4-5fav (12-3) 2nd of 9, 10l behind Ofcoursehekhan (12-0) at Hexham 3m ptp gd in May.
Reasonably Sure (IRE) 7-4fav (12-0) 3rd of 16, 11l behind Home By Midnight (11-7) at Thorpe Lodge 3m ptp gd in Jan.
Shining Tyne (12-0) 8th btn a distance behind Benny Boy (12-0) at Alnwick 3m ptp sft in Jan.
Imps Way 11-4 (11-11) Held up in rear, headway 9th, led between last 2, soon clear, won at Hexham 2m 4f hts chs (H) gf in May beating Bohemian Spirit (12-2) by 26l, 11 ran.
