in touch until weakened 5 out, tailed off and pulled up before 3 out
in touch, mistake 10th and lost place, soon behind
tracked leaders, ridden 3 out, weakened between last 2
mid-division, headway and in touch 10th, weakened 2 out
towards rear, never dangerous
tracked leader, lost place 9th, tailed off and pulled up before 3 out
towards rear, headway and in touch 2 out, soon ridden and one pace
towards rear, never dangerous
mid-division, pushed along 5 out, weakened 3 out
fell 1st
in touch, headway 3 out, led briefly approaching last, one pace
towards rear, headway and prominent 4 out, every chance last, one pace
held up towards rear, headway 3 out, led last, stayed on strongly
led, headed approaching last, mistake and one pace flat
Longdale was a narrow winner in a handicap hurdle here last week and can race back over fences off a 5lb lower mark today so Martin Todhunter's gelding has to be respected but he is better over the smaller obstacles and may again disappoint over the larger ones so preference is for DEUTERONOMY, who gets the vote over Kinfayre Boy. Dianne Sayer's gelding has run well in his last two starts and a reproduction of a similar level of form should see him go close again. Micky Hammond's Divex is capable of taking a hand in the finish here but the eight-year-old was very disappointing at Sedgefield last time and now looks best watched. Alan Parker's Rathowen ran better at Kelso last month and has every chance if able to build on that effort. Joss Saville's Freedom Flying ran better at Cartmel last time but needs to improve again to get the better of Deuteronomy, who gets the vote. John Wade's gelding has been running consistently well of late, remains feasibly well treated and he looks worth supporting to gain a deserved success.
Rathowen (IRE) 6-1 (12-0) Always handy, hit 13th, led 4 out, ridden approaching last, headed and weakened flat, 5th of 12, 5l behind Almost Blue (11-8) at Kelso 3m 1f hts chs (6) gd in May.
Divex (IRE) 12-1 (11-8) Chased leaders, lost place when blundered 11th, no danger after, 8th of 11, well behind Woody Valentine (11-5) at Sedgefield 2m 4f hcp chs 0-100 (4) gd in May.
Deuteronomy (IRE) 4-1fav (11-6) With leader, led 5th, headed 3 out, soon ridden, kept on, no impression, 2nd of 11, 6l behind Woody Valentine (11-5) at Sedgefield 2m 4f hcp chs 0-100 (4) gd in May.
Stormy Bay (IRE) 66-1 (11-7) Held up towards rear, fell 4th, in a race won by City Affair (11-9) at Aintree 2m 4f nov hts chs (6) gd in May, 7 ran.
Kinfayre Boy 10-1 (11-0) Towards rear, ridden 3 out, stayed on from last, 3rd of 11, 4 1/2l behind Solway Sunset (11-12) at Cartmel 3m 2f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gd in May.
Rookery Lad 16-1 (11-1) Tracked leaders, jumped slowly 8th, soon outpaced, no chance when jumped left 3 out, 5th of 6, 26l behind Nawow (10-3) at Towcester 2m hcp chs 0-105 (4) gf in May.
Longdale 6-1 (10-9) Held up in rear, headway after 3 out, soon tracking leaders, led flat, ridden out, won at Hexham 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gf beating Lily Tara (11-2) by 1 3/4l, 11 ran.
Buckstruther (IRE) 17-2 (10-12) Towards rear, headway when mistake 4 out, soon outpaced, kept on one pace from after 2 out, 4th of 12, 9l behind I'm Your Man (11-6) at Hexham 2m hcp ch 0-95 (5) gd in May.
Freedom Flying 12-1 (10-0) Soon tracking winner, ridden and mistake last, no extra, 3rd of 8, 5l behind Lindseyfield Lodge (10-6) at Cartmel 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-105 (4) sft in May.
Country Servant (USA) 66-1 (9-9) Always towards rear, 7th of 9, well behind Pilca (11-0) at Perth 2m 4f nov hcp chs 0-120 (3) gf in May.
Ballynure (IRE) 20-1 (10-8) Mid-division, outpaced 13th, kept on onepace from 3 out, 4th of 16, 50l behind Sea Cadet (11-12) at Hexham 3m 1f hcp chs 0-95 (5) gd in May.
Paperchaser 15-2 (10-0) Held up in rear, pushed along 5th, blundered next, chased leaders 7th, led 3 out, ridden and headed 1f out, no extra when lost 2nd near finish, 3rd of 9, 1 3/4l behind It's Bertie (11-11) at Cartmel 2m 1f hcp chs 0-95 (5) sft in May.
Uptown Lad (IRE) 150-1 (10-12) Behind, outpaced 10th, never dangerous, 9th of 10, well behind Schelm (10-12) at Sedgefield 2m nov stks (4) gf.
Celtic Flow 50-1 (10-0) Close up on inside, chased winner 15th to 5 out, outpaced from next, 6th of 13, 38l behind Sam Cruise (10-3) at Sedgefield 3m 3f hcp chs 0-105 (4) gf.
