prominent, not fluent 2nd, pushed along and lost place before 5th, mistake 6th, weakened approaching 4 out, went remote 3rd 2 out
held up, headway 6th, went 2nd after 9th, challenged 4 out, soon led, clear flat, stayed on well
led, not fluent 1st, headed 9th, weakened before 4 out
tracked leader until before 6th where jumped slowly, lost place when mistake 8th, weakened next, pulled up before 4 out
held up in touch, pecked 1st, closed 5th, went 2nd before next, led 9th, not fluent 4 out, soon headed, beaten last, one pace
held up, hit 6th, headway next, chased leading pair before 4 out, weakened next, lost remote 3rd 2 out
Nonrunner
TAHITI PEARL was put up 10lb after winning easily at Sedgefield and is only a couple of pounds better off with top weight Bhaltair than when beaten 14 lengths by Donald McCain's charge over C&D last season. The eight-year-old may well be improving, however, and it will take a decent effort to lower his colours if he is in the same mood here. Pumboo struggles to get his head in front while the free-running Bay Central weakened quickly at Uttoxeter last time. Parsnip Pete was a decent maiden hurdler and quite highly tried on his debut over fences but he's been no favours by the handicapper so Carlisle runner-up Prosecco may be the pick of the remainder with Storm Surge out of form.
Bhaltair (IRE) 14-1 (11-4) Tracked leaders, not fluent 2nd, challenged 6th, led 8th, headed 2 out, one pace last, 4th of 12, 6l behind Lucy's Legend (11-1) at Kempton 2m hcp chs 0-120 (4) gd.
Parsnip Pete 25-1 (10-12) Behind, hampered 2nd, blundered 8th, went remote 4th from 10th, never dangerous, 4th of 10, 48l behind What A Warrior (10-12) at Bangor 2m 4f nov chs (4) gd.
Bay Central (IRE) 12-1 (11-12) Led, soon clear, not fluent 3rd, reduced advantage when hit 6th, headed after next, mistake 3 out, soon weakened, 3rd of 5, 45l behind Fintan (11-10) at Uttoxeter 2m hcp chs 0-115 (4) sft.
Storm Surge (IRE) 25-1 (10-9) Always in rear, slow 5th, soon tailed off, pulled up 7th, in a race won by Tito Bustillo (11-12) at Carlisle 2m hcp chs 0-125 (3) hvy, 7 ran.
Tahiti Pearl (IRE) 7-2fav (11-8) Held up in touch, led 9th, clear 3 out, kept on well, eased near finish, won at Sedgefield 2m hcp 0-100 (5) gd beating Schinken Otto (11-12) by 11l, 10 ran.
Pumboo (FR) 9-1 (11-4) Tracked leaders on inside, ridden after 3 out, stayed on to dispute 2nd until no extra in 3rd flat, 3rd of 11, 10l behind Sacre Toi (11-6) at Newcastle 2m hcp 0-100 (5) gs.
Prosecco (IRE) 7-2 (10-10) Chased leaders, slow 3rd, soon lost place and in rear, headway to chase leaders 5th, effort 3 out, stayed on under pressure to go 2nd closing stages, never reached winner, 2nd of 7, 4l behind Tito Bustillo (11-12) at Carlisle 2m hcp chs 0-125 (3) hvy.
