led to 3rd, tracked leader, clear with leader 11th, led after 5 out, drew clear from next, pushed out, eased towards finish
raced keenly in touch, led 3rd, clear with winner 11th, blundered 5 out, soon headed, kept on but no chance with winner from next
held up behind in touch, left 3rd at 6th, lost touch with leading pair 11th, soon under pressure, lost moderate 3rd 5 out, no chance after
tracked leader to 2nd, chased leaders, hampered 6th, soon dropped to rear, under pressure when blundered and unseated rider 11th
wandered 1st, tracked winner 2nd to next, close up 3rd when fell 6th
held up behind in touch, hampered when left disputing 3rd at 6th, lost touch with leading pair 11th, went clear, moderate 3rd 5 out, no chance with front pair
Alderley Rover deserves a change of luck, having finished runner-up in three of his five starts over fences so far. The seven-year-old has always looked an out-and-out stayer, however, and may not be suited by this easy course so we'll take a chance on the fitness of SITTING TENNANT. Winner of the valuable Grade 2 bumper at Aintree's Grand National meeting in 2009, he was sold to Graham Wylie for £160,000 shortly after and got off the mark over hurdles at Hexham later that year. Unfortunately, he suffered an overreach which has taken time to heal but is still a nice prospect and should take all the beating here with a clear round. Ballymacduff also tackles fences for the first time but was a decent hurdler, though has something to prove after pulling up here last month.
Alderley Rover (IRE) 2-1 (11-0) Prominent, mistake 9th, led after 4 out, not fluent and headed 3 out, no impression from next, one pace, 2nd of 5, 5l behind Quo Video (11-0) at Market Rasen 2m 6f beg chase (4) gs in Jan.
Ballymacduff (IRE) 4-1 (11-12) Tracked leaders and keen, saddle soon slipped, went 2nd at 5th, pulled up before 7th, in a race won by Everaard (10-11) at Musselburgh 3m hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gd in Jan, 10 ran.
Devil Water 10-1 (11-4) Held up in touch, ridden after 8th, no chance from next, tailed off, 7th of 9, 38l behind Nelliedonethat (11-2) at Musselburgh 2m 4f hcp ch 0-110 (4) gs in Jan.
I Witness (IRE) 100-1 (10-5) Chased leaders, lost place 7th, behind from 4 out, tailed off, 9th of 16, well behind Jurisdiction (11-12) at Kelso 2m 6f nh nov hdl (4) gd in Nov.
Sitting Tennant 13-8fav (11-8) Made all, ridden between last 2, driven out, dismounted after line, won at Aintree 2m mdn hdl (3) gs in Nov '09 beating Benbens (11-8) by 6l, 12 ran.
Political Pendant 18-1 (10-0) Chased leaders, joined leader 4th, led 6th, headed 3 out, soon weakened, 5th of 9, 24l behind Ontrack (10-1) at Sedgefield 3m 3f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) sft.
