jumped right, held up towards rear, headway after 4th, outpaced after 4 out, stayed on under pressure flat
prominent, made most from 4th until fell 3 out
took keen hold in rear, not fluent 3rd, headway 11th, no impression from 4 out, mistake 2 out
soon led, headed 4th, close 3rd until fell 9th
in rear, behind 5th, pushed along 8th, tailed off 13th, pulled up before 4 out
prominent, pressed leader from 4th, upsides when left in lead 3 out, edged right approaching last, stayed on, ridden out
mid-division, hampered 9th, behind from 14th, tailed off
held up in rear, headway when hampered 9th, close up when left 2nd 3 out, one pace flat
chased leaders, not fluent 8th, close 4th when fell 3 out
Nonrunner
TREEHOUSE is lightly-weighted and looks moderately progressive so he is preferred to Sycho Fred and Gilsland. Anne and Ian Hamilton's gelding has been in good form this winter, winning two of his last three starts. His only defeat (to the re-opposing Sycho Fred) came when racing at Catterick which wouldn't have suited and he is fancied to appreciate this long straight and more testing track. Sycho Fred is actually better off at the weights today with the selection but his profile is not quite as alluring and he has never won back-to-back before and the cheek-pieces are left off today. Top Cloud tries a visor, Blazing Diva faces more realistic company today, while Crackadee and Master Sebastian are both course-and-distance winners racing off realistic marks. A Boy Named Sioux is a capable hunter-chaser/point-to-pointer and any market support would look significant, while the feeling is that Gilsland's latest run behind Quentin D'ex will work out to be strong form but he races lazily and cheek-pieces are now applied. The imposing Sammy Spiderman ran a blinder behind Its Teescomponents here last time out and is considered along with the unexposed Jimandgary, however the nomination is given to the reliable Treehouse.
Master Sebastian 22-1 (11-0) Held up towards rear, pushed along half way, weakened 13th, 7th of 8, well behind Huka Lodge (10-8) at Carlisle 3m hcp chs 0-135 (3) hvy in Nov.
Gilsland (IRE) 5-2 (11-0) Led, not fluent 4th, reminder approaching 6th, ridden after 3 out, edged left after 2 out, headed last, one pace, 2nd of 5, 3 1/2l behind Quentin D'ex (11-0) at Towcester 3m beg chase (4) hvy in Jan.
Sammy Spiderman 11-1 (10-0) Mid-division, effort approaching 4 out, ridden to chase winner 2 out, kept on, held flat, 2nd of 12, 2 1/2l behind Its Teescomponents (10-1) at Newcastle 3m hcp chs 0-130 (3) sft in Jan.
Jimandgary (IRE) 10-1 (10-12) Prominent, led 6th to 8th, left in lead 12th, headed 3 out, led next, headed last, no extra, 4th of 9, 5l behind Bleu Pois (10-12) at Hexham 3m 1f nov stks (4) gd in Apr.
Crackadee 7-1 (10-1) Mid-division, mistake 2nd, reminders 8th, behind from 10th, kept on from 3 out, never dangerous, 6th of 12, 11l behind Its Teescomponents (10-1) at Newcastle 3m hcp chs 0-130 (3) sft in Jan.
Blazing Diva (IRE) 100-1 (10-9) Held up, hit 7th, lost touch 10th, soon tailed off, last of 6, well behind Weapon's Amnesty (11-2) at Newcastle 3m nov chs (3) gs in Nov.
Top Cloud (IRE) 25-1 (10-3) Tracked leader, lost place 12th, soon struggling, behind from 4 out, 8th of 15, well behind BallaBriggs (11-12) at Catterick 3m 1f hcp chs 0-120 (3) sft in Jan.
Treehouse 4-1fav (11-2) Held up mid-division, headway to chase leaders approaching 4 out, went 2nd approaching last, stayed on to lead towards finish, won at Hexham 3m 1f hcp 0-90 (5) hvy in Dec beating Reckless Venture (11-6) by 2 1/4l, 15 ran.
Sycho Fred (IRE) 9-2 (10-1) Held up in touch, chased leader approaching 2 out, challenged last, stayed on to lead close home, won at Catterick 3m 1f hcp chs 0-110 (4) sft in Dec beating Star Beat (11-0) by nk, 10 ran.
A Boy Named Sioux (IRE) 6-1 (12-4) Mid-division, fell 12th, in a race won by The Reverend (12-4) at Kelso 3m 1f hts chs (5) gd in Mar, 6 ran.
