tracked leaders in 3rd, chased winner 3 out, challenged 2 out, every chance last, kept on and just held towards finish
tracked winner until 3 out, soon weakened
held up towards rear, mistake 15th ridden before 3 out, soon weakened
held up in rear, not fluent 6th, not fluent 14th, headway from 2 out, went 3rd after last, kept on
made all, driven out, just held on
tracked leaders in 3rd, mistake 7th, ridden and weakened before 3 out, mistake last
Overafrica has only had onerun over fences and has yet to prove he stays this far but Cilliseal won over 3m1f on heavy ground at Hexham last time and should get home, though the form of that race hasn't been franked. Tipsy Dara has also won recently at Hexham while Fog Patches has been placed in his last six starts, though is high enough in the weights now. ROYAL MACKINTOSH is a pound lower than when just beaten on his reappearance at Kelso last term. He goes well fresh in general and all four of his previous victories have come at this track so he gets the nod today. Blazing Diva is another C&D winner but her form went to pieces last season.
Fog Patches (IRE) 10-1 (11-1) Held up, mistake 4th, headway 11th, went 2nd 4 out, stayed on, no impression, 2nd of 9, 4l behind Pete The Feat (11-1) at Uttoxeter 3m hcp chs 0-105 (4) gs in Oct.
Tipsy Dara (IRE) 2-1fav (10-10) Led, headed before 3 out, soon outpaced, headway before last, led last, kept on, driven out, won at Hexham 2m 4f hcp chs 0-115 (4) hvy in Oct beating Sparkling Tara (11-7) by 1l, 6 ran.
Overafrica (IRE) 10-3 (10-13) With leader, reminders after 5th, led before 2 out, ridden and headed before omitted 2 out, lost 2nd run-in when weakening, 3rd of 5, 18l behind Ros Castle (11-2) at Kelso 2m 1f Beginners Chase (0-110) (4yo+) (4) hvy in Oct.
Cilliseal (IRE) 11-8fav (11-5) Settled in rear, slow 6th, left in 2nd at 10th, took closer order 3 out, every chance next, led last, forged clear closing stages, all out, won at Hexham 3m 1f hcp chs 0-95 (5) hvy in Oct beating Billsgrey (10-10) by 3 1/2l, 5 ran.
Royal Mackintosh 5-1 (11-4) Held up towards rear, soon tracked leaders, in 4th when blundered 10th, weakened and reminders before 13th, 5th of 8, well behind Mr Woods (10-2) at Carlisle 3m 2f hcp ch 0-110 (4) hvy in Mar.
Blazing Diva (IRE) 9-1 (10-0) Chased leaders, jumped slow 10th, reminders before next, soon towards rear, tailed off before 17th, pulled up before 18th, in a race won by Cerium (10-1) at Perth 3m 7f hcp chs 0-125 (3) sft in Apr, 11 ran.
