raced keenly in rear, blundered 2nd, headway to join leader 4th, led 3 out, ridden and headed when edged left flat, no extra towards finish
held up, headway 4th, ridden to chase leaders after 3 out, weakened from next
tracked leaders, mistake 3rd, jumped left from 2 out, soon ridden, effort on inside when hampered flat, switched right and stayed on to lead near finish
held up, outpaced 3 out, behind when pulled up before next
led, headed 3 out, soon ridden, weakened next
chased leader to 4th, ridden after 3 out, soon weakened
held up, headway 3 out, chased leader next, led flat, ridden and hung left flat, headed, no extra near finish
tracked leaders, lost place 3 out, behind when pulled up before next
in touch, lost place 3 out, weakened next
Personal Assurance has an obvious chance at the weights judged by official BHB ratings but would prefer a much faster surface and preference is for Totally Scottish, who gets the vote ahead of Northaw Lad. The selection does not win very often but is well treated and has ground conditions in his favour so may have been found a suitable opportunity to resume winning ways. The Wife's Sister was good value for her win at Hereford on fast ground last time and has won under more testing conditions but this looks tougher. Ivana Illyich faces no easy task against more experienced rivals and of more interest may be Celtic Blaze, although the testing conditions may be of some concern. Red Flyer is another that may want a faster surface, while Northaw Lad, who should go on the ground, has to give weight away all round. There are no such problems with Totally Scottish though and Keith Reveley's gelding is taken to gain a deserved success.
Northaw Lad (IRE) 5-2fav (11-8) Held up in mid-division, headway 7th, led after 3 out, pushed clear from 2 out, won at Fontwell 2m 4f clm hdl (5) gd beating Anatar (11-10) by 2 1/2l, 10 ran.
Red Flyer (IRE) 25-1 (11-0) Held up, headway 6th, ridden after 3 out, weakened next, 7th of 11, 12l behind Westmeath Flyer (11-7) at Southwell 2m 5f sll hdl (5) gf.
Totally Scottish 11-2 (10-12) Held up, headway 4 out, ridden and outpaced next, never able to challenge, 5th of 9, 28l behind Habitual Dancer (11-8) at Newcastle 3m hcp hdl 0-125 (3) hvy in Mar.
Personal Assurance 9-2 (11-10) Not jump well, soon behind, struggling when pulled up at the 14th in race won by Mullensgrove (10-3) at Aintree 3m 1f hcp chs 0-120 (D) gd in Jun, 9 ran.
Frankincense (IRE) 25-1 (10-9) In touch, lost place 4th, soon behind, 7th of 15, 31l behind Leadaway (11-0) at Sedgefield 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-90 (5) gf.
Celtic Blaze (IRE) 14-1 (11-3) Mid-division, headway to go prominent 4th, weakened approaching 3 out, 8th of 13, 23l behind Talarive (11-0) at Market Rasen 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-100 (4) gd in Apr.
The Wife's Sister 11-1 (10-12) Mid-division, headway 4th, led after 3 out, driven out, won at Hereford 3m 2f sll hdl (5) gf beating Fieldings Society (10-8) by 2l, 11 ran.
Ivana Illyich (IRE) 14-1 (11-4) Mid-division, lost place after 5th, behind from next, tailed off, 12th of 16, well behind Don't Ask Me (11-5) at Uttoxeter 2m 4f sll hcp hdl 0-90 (5) gd.
