tracked leaders, mistake 4th, hit 10th, went 3rd 12th, ridden 3 out, one pace when mistake next
led to 6th, hit 10th, led again 2 out, headed flat, no extra
mid-division, outpaced 14th
towards rear, weakened halfway, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out
towards rear, hit 7th, outpaced 14th
held up towards rear, headway and in touch 9th, outpaced 4 out
in touch, pushed along and lost place 13th, outpaced when hit, unseated rider 3 out
mid-division, headway to lead 6th, headed 2 out, rallied to regain lead flat
prominent, blundered and lost place 5th, outpaced 14th, kept on one pace from 2 out
There was plenty to like about the hunter chase debut success of Lothian Rising, who transferred his point-to-point form well to the racecourse proper at Carlisle and can follow up here. The more experienced Anshan Spirit and Telemoss, who has a touch of class, can make the selection work hard, while Tufty Hopper would go close if he can shrug off a poor effort last time. Lothian Rising jumped well and stayed well last time and is clearly improving. Telemoss comes here from much better company but prefers much more cut and is not easy to win with. Anshan Spirit has done the rounds on the northern jumping circuit and likes it here, so can't be discounted as one who acts on the ground, while Tufty Hopper has form in the book that would give him a chance if reproducing it, but with that in doubt we will side with Lothian Rising.
Lothian Rising 3-1 (11-9) Held up, headway and in touch 9th, challenged next, led 4 out, kept on, won at Carlisle 3m hts chs (6) gd in Apr beating Forever Eyesofblue (11-9) by 2 1/2l, 6 ran.
Telemoss (IRE) 33-1 (12-0) Towards rear when blundered and unseated rider at the 6th in race won by Drombeag (12-0) at Cheltenham 3m 2f hts chs (2) gs in Mar, 24 ran.
High Expectations (IRE) 20-1 (11-9) Towards rear, never dangerous, 6th of 10, well behind Natiain (12-2) at Kelso 3m 1f hts chs (4) gf in Apr.
Just Good Friends (IRE) 14-1 (11-11) Towards rear, never dangerous, 4th of 8, well behind Thorsgill (11-13) at Hexham 3m 1f mdn hts chs (6) gf in Apr.
Road King (IRE) 10-1 (12-5) Lost plce 5; outpcd 14; snatched mod 2nd, 2nd of 10, 10l behind Nile Moon (12-5) at Corbridge 3m ptp gf in Apr.
Tufty Hopper 7-2 (11-6) Mid-division, headway 16th, weakened 5 out, behind when pulled up 3 out in race won by Waking Ned (12-0) at Perth 3m 7f hts chs (5) sft in Apr, 12 ran.
Anshan Spirit (IRE) 13-2 (11-4) In touch, headway to chase winner 13th, effort 3 out, rallied to press winner flat, held towards finish, 2nd of 10, 1l behind Natiain (12-2) at Kelso 3m 1f hts chs (4) gf in Apr.
Lifes A Flyer (IRE) 33-1 (11-7) Led to 8th, soon last place, behind from 4 out, last of 7, 24l behind Imps Way (11-8) at Wetherby 2m 4f hts chs (6) gd in Apr.
