keen early, held up in last pair in touch, headway on outside 9th, went 4th 3 out, kept on same pace, never troubled leaders
tracked leaders, went 2nd after 4 out, led next, ridden and stayed on under pressure flat
held up in last pair in touch, outpaced 4 out, soon beaten, tailed off
disputed lead to 4th, tracked leaders, lost place 10th, soon behind, tailed off
with leaders to 7th, in touch, outpaced before 3 out, 5th and beaten when mistake next
disputed lead from 4th, outpaced when lost 2nd after 4 out, kept on same pace under pressure, 3rd and held when hit last
disputed lead until headed 3 out, ridden and stayed on under pressure flat, held towards finish
Ski Sunday was a decent hurdler but hasn't shown a great deal over fences so far and needs to brush up his jumping. Stopped Out has been knocking on the door, however, and was only beaten half-a-length by Empress Orchid at Wetherby last time. Irish import Captain Paulie has won a bumper and a couple of hurdles, while Ruff Diamond won over the smaller obstacles at Carlisle last month though didn't show a great deal over fences in a couple of runs in 2009. CARRICKBOY made mistakes and was pulled up on his reappearance at Haydock but will have needed that it would be no surprise if he opened his account over the larger obstacles today.
Captain Paulie (IRE) 28-1 (11-1) Held up in rear, rapid headway to lead 6th, headed 3 out, no extra from next, 4th of 6, 13l behind Shadrack (10-9) at Catterick 2m Novice Handicap Chase (0-135) (4yo+) (3) sft in Dec.
Carrickboy (IRE) 11-2 (11-12) Held up in touch in last, mistake 8th, ridden after 11th, weakened approaching 4 out, pulled up before next, in a race won by Bocciani (11-7) at Haydock 2m 4f nov hcp chs 0-120 (4) hvy in Dec, 6 ran.
Frank The Slink 33-1 (11-0) Held up 5th and last, reminders after 4th, ridden and outpaced after 8th, never near leaders, 4th of 5, 16l behind Empress Orchid (10-4) at Wetherby 2m beg chs (5) sft in Dec.
Puyol (IRE) 11-1 (11-0) With leader, mistake 2nd, outpaced 5 out, blundered 3 out, soon weakened, 4th of 6, 46l behind Maggio (11-0) at Musselburgh 2m 4f beg chs (5) gs in Dec.
Ruff Diamond (USA) 7-1 (11-12) Tracked leaders on outside, went 2nd when not fluent 3 out, led between last 2, driven and kept on flat, won at Carlisle 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) hvy in Dec beating Fair Spin (10-2) by 3 1/2l, 7 ran.
Ski Sunday 10-3 (11-0) Held up in touch in 4th, went 3rd from 5 out, no impression on front pair, 3rd of 6, 31l behind Eradicate (11-4) at Southwell 2m nov chs (4) gs.
Stopped Out 7-4 (11-0) Tracked winner, challenged 4 out, soon outpaced, 2 lengths down in 2nd last, ridden and rallied flat, held near finish, 2nd of 5, 1/2l behind Empress Orchid (10-4) at Wetherby 2m beg chs (5) sft in Dec.
