in touch, ridden after 3 out, stayed on under pressure to lead last, held on flat
in touch, headway 10th, led before 3 out, ridden after next, headed last, kept on same pace
chased leader to 10th, soon lost place and weakened 3 out
raced keenly and led, headed before 3 out, soon ridden, weakened after next
mid-division, lost place 9th, soon behind, tailed off when blundered and unseated rider 2 out
mid-division, lost place 11th, no danger after
mid-division, lost place 5th, struggling 7th, tailed off and pulled up before 3 out
chased leaders to 11th, soon weakened, tailed off
mistake and unseated rider 1st
mid-division, lost place 11th, tailed off and pulled up before 3 out
chased leaders, outpaced 4 out, weakened next
held up behind, reminder 8th, headway and in touch 10th, challenged 2 out, soon ridden no extra approaching last
NOUVEAU MAIRE was a comfortable scorer over course and distance last time and can follow up today, while Caraman looks next best. The selection has largely been raced on soft ground in his native France until recent times, but showed that a sound surface holds no fears when jumping particularly well when scoring here earlier in the month. With course form a good thing to have on your side on this quirky track, and good recent form hard to come by for most of these, we'll take him to score. Caraman should stay at least as far as this and was last seen running second in a Catterick seller on the flat last May. The ground will suit this Grand Lodge gelding and he looks capable of producing a good performance. Jupiter's Fancy is a bit long in the tooth these days but she has recorded wins in each of the past two seasons over similar trips and on fast ground. She was well behind Nouveau Maire here last time and it is hard to see her reversing those placings. Smart Cavalier has conditions to suit and gets every yard of this trip. He went well enough at Kelso last time and in such a poor race he looks capable of making a showing but preference is for Nouveau Maire.
Belem Ranger (IRE) 9-2 (12-7) A.p; led app last; held on wl u.p flat, won at Corbridge 3m ptp gd beating Floreana (11-7) by 1l, 15 ran.
Benwell 6-1 (11-7) Held up, lost place approaching 5th, blundered 7th and unseated rider 5 out in race won by Jubilee George (11-7) at Doncaster 2m 3f hts chs (5) gs in Feb, 8 ran.
Nouveau Maire (FR) 25-1 (11-7) Held up mid-division, headway to lead 4 out, clear 2 out, ridden out flat, won at Sedgefield 2m 4f hts chs (6) gd beating Witness Run (11-9) by 8l, 11 ran.
Oaklands Luis 33-1 (11-7) Always behind, tailed off from 9th, last of 10, well behind Coolefind (12-0) at Leicester 2m 7f hts chs (3) gs.
Smart Cavalier 12-1 (11-11) Led, ridden approaching last, soon headed and no extra flat, 2nd of 10, 25l behind The Reverend (11-8) at Kelso 2m 6f hts chs (6) sft in Feb.
Jupiter's Fancy 16-1 (11-8) Chased leaders to 4 out, weakened next, 8th of 11, 34l behind Nouveau Maire (11-7) at Sedgefield 2m 4f hts chs (6) gd.
Ben Nelly (IRE) 33-1 (11-3) Mid-division, blundered and unseated rider at the 10th in race won by The Reverend (11-8) at Kelso 2m 6f hts chs (6) sft in Feb, 10 ran.
Billslegacy (IRE) 150-1 (10-13) Close up, weakened 5th, tailed off when pulled up at the 7th in race won by Mr Barnacle (10-13) at Hexham 3m nov hdl (4) hvy in May, 6 ran.
High Moor 16-1 (12-5) Cl up; ev ch bet last 2; wknd qckly, 8th of 15, 33l behind Eliza Doalott (11-12) at Duncombe Park 3m ptp gd in Feb.
Jimmys Duky (IRE) 5-4fav (11-0) Led 11; drew clr aft 2 out, won at Duncombe Park 3m ptp gd in Feb beating Fairy Skin Maker (11-0) by 6l, 6 ran.
River Line (USA) 16-1 (12-5) Led 5-8 & 9 til blun bad 10; carried out nxt carried out in race won by My Old Piano (12-5) at Charm Park 3m ptp gd, 10 ran.
Stroom Bank (IRE) 8-1 (11-5) Tracked leaders, ridden 12th, weakened 3 out, 4th of 6, 18l behind Dellover (11-3) at Fakenham 2m 5f nov hts chs (6) gs.
Willywont He 6-4fav (12-5) Went 2nd 14; qcknd to ld app last; sn clr, won at Charm Park 3m ptp gd beating Dreamaker (12-5) by 3l, 5 ran.
Caraman (IRE) 16-1 (12-0) Nvr beyond midfield, 6th of 13, 27l behind Unjust Law (12-0) at Charm Park 3m ptp gd.
