tracked leaders, challenging when blundered 2 out, led after last, all out
led, headed after 6th, remained prominent, no extra from 2 out
mid-division, headway under pressure after 4 out, no extra from 2 out
prominent, led after 6th, headed after last, rallied and every chance towards finish, just held
not fluent, in touch, dropped rear 5th, soon tailed off, pulled up before 7th
raced keen, held up in rear, headway 7th, outpaced 4 out
Megaton looks a solid bet here and gets the vote over Possextown and Glacial Rambler. The selection won well last time out when beating Longueville Manor and this improving 6-year-old from the Peter Bowen yard should prove tough to beat. He gave weight away to all the field last time and he gives the impression that there is more to come. Possextown unseated his rider in a competitive race here last time and there is no doubt that granted a clear round he is capable of getting competitive. Glacial Rambler has failed to complete on his last two starts so he is a risky proposition, but he does have some form in point-to-points and if he does pull it all together today then he could go well. Buckstruther is lightly-raced and should not be dismissed too lightly, but Megaton is clearly going the right way and should be hard to beat.
Megaton 4-5fav (11-5) In touch, led 9th, ridden approaching last, stayed on well, won at Stratford 2m 6f nov hdl (3) gf in Aug beating Longueville Manor (10-2) by 1 1/2l, 6 ran.
Possextown (IRE) 16-1 (10-8) Close up, disputing 3rd when hampered and unseated rider 4 out in race won by Ballycassidy (11-11) at Kelso 2m 6f hcp chs 0-135 (3) gf, 9 ran.
Buckstruther (IRE) 40-1 (10-9) Chased leaders, pushed along 3 out, one pace next, 4th of 10, 17l behind Gringo (11-7) at Kelso 2m nov hdl (4) gf in Apr.
Glacial Rambler (IRE) 10-1 (12-0) Jb; pulled up in race won by Luksar (12-0) at Balcormo Mains 3m ptp gf in Apr, 9 ran.
Spivitus 16-1 (11-3) Always behind, tailed off when pulled up 5 out in race won by Russian Trigger (10-12) at Perth 2m 4f mdn hdl (4) sft in Apr, 14 ran.
Thenford Sir (IRE) 33-1 (11-0) Raced wide in mid-division, weakened approaching 3 out, 6th of 12, 24l behind Midnight Chase (11-3) at Perth 2m nh mdn hdl (4) gs in Apr.
Dispol Samurai 100-1 (10-7) Raced keen in mid-division, lost place 5th, tailed off when pulled up 2 out in race won by Plemont Bay (11-0) at Sedgefield 2m 1f 4yo mdn hdl (4) gf in Apr, 13 ran.
Lady Howe 33-1 (10-4) Behind, lost touch halfway, 4th of 6, well behind King Barry (11-0) at Kelso 2m 6f hdl (3) gf.
