took keen hold, held up off the pace in 4th, left 3rd 4 out, outpaced next, soon weakened, baulked 2 out then lost 3rd
raced freely, led, clear before 2nd until 5th, fell next
chased leaders, jumped left and not fluent 2nd, went 2nd approaching 4th, closed 5th, not fluent, slightly hampered and left in lead 4 out, headed 2 out, beaten when jumped left and not fluent 2 out
in rear, well behind 4th, mistake 5th, not fluent 3 out, modest 4th when badly hampered 2 out
chased leader until approaching 4th, not fluent 5th, left 2nd 4 out, led 2 out, clear last, stayed on
Point-to-point and Kelso bumper winner Shantaluze attempted to make all in another bumper at Carlisle but was soon done with when headed. He should do much better with a stiffer test of stamina. Melekhov put a promising bumper debut to good use when landing similar races at Fakenham and Hexham though could probably do with softer ground. Cracking Destiny, a winner between the flags, didn't show much in bumpers or on his hurdling debut and has changed stables, as has Khage, while Soldier Of Love followed a narrow debut defeat in an Ascot bumper with a disappointing effort at Kempton. Gordon Elliott has runners in every race starting with MARKHAN, three times a winner on the Flat and a decent third in what looked a good maiden at Clonmel. That experience could be good enough for this.
Cracking Destiny (IRE) 9-2 (11-5) Held up mid-division, headway before 3 out, weakened before 2 out, 6th of 11, dist behind King Of Realms (11-5) at Doncaster 2m 3f mdn (5) sft in Jan.
Khage (IRE) 8-1 (10-12) Tracked leaders, outpaced over 2f out, soon ridden and lost place, no chance with front trio from over 1f out, lost 4th well inside final furlong, 5th of 10, 17 1/4l behind Mercy Mercy Me (10-12) at Sandown 2m (4) gs in Nov.
Markhan (USA) 6-1 (11-12) Soon settled behind leaders, 5th halfway, improved to press leader 2 out, ridden in 2nd last, no extra run-in and kept on same pace, 3rd of 9, 3 1/2l behind Knock On Steel (11-4) at Clonmel 2m 1f mdn gd in Oct.
Melekhov (IRE) 5-2jfav (11-0) Mid-division, headway 10f out, led on last bend, stayed on, driven out, won at Hexham 2m (5) sft in Apr beating Penny Blak (10-12) by 1 1/2l, 9 ran.
Shantaluze (IRE) 11-8fav (11-9) Led, ridden and headed over 2f out, weakened over 1f out, 3rd of 4, 21l behind Glentrool (11-2) at Carlisle 2m 1f (5) hvy in Mar.
