held up well in rear, headway on outside and hung left from 2 out, went 2nd towards finish, no chance with winner
chased leader until hit 3 out, chased leaders, pushed along and weakened before next
held up, headway chasing leaders 6th, weakened 3 out, tailed off and pulled up before last
chased leaders, went 2nd 2 out, soon ridden and one pace, no chance with easy winner, hit last, lost 2nd towards finish
always towards rear, pushed along and struggling before 3 out, tailed off
chased leaders on inside, ridden and weakened before 3 out
chased leaders, not fluent 3rd and 5th, mistake next, 2nd 3 out until next, chased leading pair, no chance when hit last, weakened run-in
held up in last pair, never on terms, tailed off when fell heavily 2 out
made all, went right 3 out, clear next, stayed on strongly, hit last, unchallenged
Stakes should probably be kept to a minimum in a very weak finale. BELL WEIR is a token selection, even though he hasn’t won over hurdles since 2014 and hasn’t raced since October. He did score on the Flat at Ayr in August and Ken Slack has a good strike-rate with his runners here. Only A Tipple is still seeking a first victory but he is getting steadily closer and, like Episode and Diego Suarez, is tried in cheekpieces here. Ask Paddy is getting weight from some very moderate performers and would have claims on his Newcastle fourth two runs ago.
Bell Weir 33-1 (10-4) In rear, hampered 6th, not fluent next, plugged on flat, 6th of 14, 14 3/4l behind Kerrow (11-8) at Aintree 3m 1f hcp (3) gd in Oct.
Should I Stay (FR) 14-1 (11-12) In rear, pushed along before 4 out, weakened before 3 out, tailed off, 7th of 11, dist behind Houndscourt (10-2) at Wetherby 3m hcp (5) gs in Jan.
Kisumu 20-1 (11-0) Mid-division, not fluent 4th, struggling 4 out, pulled up after, at Wetherby 2m 4f hcp (4) gs in Dec.
Episode 33-1 (10-0) In touch on outside when blundered and unseated rider 3rd, at Catterick 2m 3f hcp (4) gd in Jan.
Rhythm Of Sound (IRE) 28-1 (11-1) Held up towards rear, unseated rider 4th, at Wetherby 3m hcp (5) gs in Dec.
Diego Suarez (FR) 4-1 (10-12) Always towards rear, weakened before 3 out, pulled up before last, at Newcastle 2m 6f hcp (5) sft in Jan.
Only A Tipple 9-2 (10-10) Held up off the pace in 5th, closer approaching 4th, left in close 2nd bypassing 3 out, led 2 out, ridden and headed before the last, no chance with winner, just held on for 2nd, 2nd of 10, 11l behind Highland Life (10-12) at Bangor 2m 4f hcp (5) sft in Jan.
Broadway Belle 50-1 (11-0) Chased leaders, pushed along and outpaced after 6th, never on terms after, went modest 4th 2 out, 4th of 7, 16l behind Kayf Willow (11-0) at Wetherby 2m mdn (5) gd in May.
Ask Paddy (IRE) 6-1 (10-2) Held up towards rear, effort before 3 out, weakened before 2 out, 5th of 11, 30 3/4l behind Houndscourt (10-2) at Wetherby 3m hcp (5) gs in Jan.
