made virtually all, edged right on bend before 4th, jumped right and mistake 3 out, ridden after next, went right last, edged right and clear flat
in rear, slow 1st, behind from 4th, blundered 5th
held up towards rear, pushed along before 5th, soon behind, blundered 3 out
chased winner, not fluent 1st, lost 2nd after 3rd, outpaced before 3 out, soon weakened
chased leaders, went 2nd 3 out, no impression on winner after 2 out, 3rd and no extra flat
took keen hold, soon in touch, challenged before 4th until approaching 3 out, went 2nd before last, no impression on winner
chased leaders on inside, led briefly before 4th, lost place approaching next, soon behind
Nicky Henderson has a fine chance of a double of today’s card, starting with DREAM DU GRAND VAL (NAP). The French import pulled well clear of a previous winner at Fontwell following a promising UK debut at Cheltenham and looks one to follow. Skiddaw Valleys had Bullion and Near Kettering behind when chasing home a couple of previous winners at Newcastle and is probably the one for forecast-backers ahead of the fully-exposed Point Break.
Dream Du Grand Val (FR) Evensfav (11-8) Sometimes jumped right, raced keenly, held up last, rapid headway on outside tracking leading pair 4 out, went 2nd before 2 out, led between last 2, went right last, driven clear, won at Fontwell 2m 2f hcp (3) gs in Jan beating Arthington (11-12) by 10l, 5 ran.
Bullion (FR) 40-1 (10-12) Chased leaders to 3rd, mid-division, ridden after 3 out, plugged on same pace, never a threat, 5th of 10, 24 1/2l behind Encore Champs (11-4) at Kelso 2m (4) gd in Jan.
Into The Breach (FR) 40-1 (11-8) Mid-division, hampered 3rd, struggling before 3 out, not fluent next, never a threat, 5th of 9, 15 1/2l behind Dali Mail (11-8) at Ayr 2m mdn (5) hvy in Nov.
Near Kettering 200-1 (11-4) Tracked winner until weakened before 3 out, last of 7, dist behind Constancio (11-4) at Doncaster 2m 1f (4) gd in Jan.
Point Break (IRE) 8-1 (11-4) In touch, headway approaching 3 out, led before next, headed after last, kept on under pressure, 2nd of 15, 3/4l behind Rouge Vif (11-11) at Newcastle 2m (4) sft in Jan.
Skiddaw Valleys 16-1 (10-12) Mid-division, headway before 3 out, ridden to chase front pair when rider dropped whip between last 2, kept on same pace, no impression, 3rd of 10, 3 1/2l behind Encore Champs (11-4) at Kelso 2m (4) gd in Jan.
Stornaway (IRE) 100-1 (11-4) In touch, slow 2nd, weakened after 3 out, 9th of 15, dist behind Rouge Vif (11-11) at Newcastle 2m (4) sft in Jan.
Fourth Of July (IRE) 50-1 (10-12) Chased leaders, driven over 3f out, weakened over 2f out, last of 11, dist behind Lossiemouth (10-12) at Newcastle 1m 7f (5) sft in Dec.
