held up mid-division, pushed along and weakened from 4 out
led, headed before 4 out, soon weakened
held up towards rear, headway 4 out, ridden in 3rd before and mistake last, one pace
tracked leader, led before 4 out, headed before 3 out, weakened before 2 out
mid-division, mistake 6 out, outpaced from 4 out
in touch in 4th, challenged 2 out, led before last, kept on well
chased leaders, lost place from 5 out, weakened next
tracked leaders in 3rd, led before 3 out, headed before last, kept on and always held
held up towards rear, headway 4 out, ridden before 2 out, weakened before last
Birch Hill made Sharpasaknife work hard for victory at Haydock last month but disappointed on his only previous try over this trip under Rules and, through the winner, Malcolm Jefferson should know where he stands with easy Hexham winner Gully's Edge, who may be peaking at just the right time. Takingrisks is a nice prospect and has the beating of Sevenballs Of Fire on Kelso running in December. But the top weight was beaten far and square by CALEDONIA on similar terms over 2m5f here subsequently. Jim Goldie's late developer certainly wasn't stopping that day and backed up that effort with a good fourth over this trip at Haydock when a pound higher than today. Roycano had just hit the front when stumbling and unseating Harry Bannister at Newbury and has more scope than the remainder.
Takingrisks (IRE) 5-1 (11-12) Held up behind in touch, headway on outside 8th, challenged 2 out, 1/2 length down and staying on same pace when left in lead last, ridden out, won at Carlisle 3m 1f hcp (3) gd in Mar beating Wintered Well (11-7) by 5l, 8 ran.
Tradewinds (FR) 16-1 (11-4) Held up mid-division, headway before 5th, every chance before 2 out, kept on to take 3rd place run-in, 3rd of 9, 4 1/4l behind Touch Back (11-0) at Newcastle 3m hcp (3) hvy in Mar.
Roycano 10-3 (11-12) Held up towards rear, headway to track leaders after 4 out, led after next, blundered and unseated rider 2 out, at Newbury 3m hcp (4) gs in Apr.
Birch Hill (IRE) 9-2 (11-9) Led, ridden 3 out, joined last, driven and headed near finish, 2nd of 5, 3/4l behind Sharpasaknife (11-12) at Haydock 2m 3f hcp (3) gd in Mar.
Sevenballs Of Fire (IRE) 4-1 (11-10) In touch, challenged 8th, led before 2 out, soon driven, 1/2 length advantage and staying on when fell last, at Carlisle 3m 1f hcp (3) gd in Mar.
Gully's Edge 2-1fav (10-12) Tracked leader, challenged after 2 out, led approaching last, soon clear, easily, won at Hexham 2m 7f (4) sft in Mar beating Net Work Rouge (11-12) by 17l, 6 ran.
Another Mattie (IRE) 12-1 (10-13) Led, headed before 4th, led 2 out, kept on and headed towards finish, 2nd of 9, 1l behind Touch Back (11-0) at Newcastle 3m hcp (3) hvy in Mar.
Caledonia 14-1 (10-9) Mid-division, weakened before 4 out, 4th of 16, 9 1/4l behind Petethepear (10-8) at Haydock 2m 7f hcp (2) gd in Mar.
Timon's Tara 16-1 (10-4) Held up in rear, headway approaching 2 out, ridden between last two, soon weakened, 5th of 13, at Newbury 2m 5f hcp lst (1) gd in Apr.
