tracked leading pair, led 7th, hit next, jumped left final 3, shaken up before 2 out, 2 lengths ahead when hit last, headed and no extra final 75 yards
led and disputed, headed 6th, lost 2nd next, chased leading pair, pushed long and one pace in 3rd before 4 out
held up last, pushed along briefly before 5th, 2nd after 8th, hit 4 out, 2 lengths down last, stayed on to lead final 75 yards
led and disputed, jumped left from 5th, chased winner 7th until after next, soon pushed along and weakened
Winning point-to-pointer CELTIC FLAMES made a successful debut over regulation fences at Hexham in November but ran poorly in his next two starts before a much better effort here last time when falling at the last while challenging. He can gain compensation though Middlebrow looks a major threat as he attempts his third victory in his last four, though both of those successes came over further. An Laoch looked a certain future winner when runner-up in his first three starts over fences but blotted his copybook when tackling 3m here in December while Scorpo was a 500/1 chance when last of five at Catterick.
Middlebrow (IRE) 11-4 (10-13) Jumped left, in touch on outside, went 2nd and jumped badly left from 4 out, led 3 out, driven clear flat, kept on, won at Musselburgh 2m 4f hcp (4) gs in Jan beating Martiloo (10-13) by 3 1/2l, 6 ran.
An Laoch (IRE) 11-2 (12-3) Held up, in touch after 10th, weakened before 4 out, pulled up before 2 out, at Musselburgh 3m hcp (4) gd in Dec.
Celtic Flames (IRE) 14-1 (10-8) Held up behind, pushed along after 5 out, headway under pressure after next, switched inside approaching 2 out, pressed winner and every chance when fell last, at Musselburgh 2m 4f hcp (4) sft in Feb.
Scorpo (IRE) 500-1 (10-12) Soon last, tailed off when slow 4 out, last of 5, dist behind Cracking Find (11-4) at Catterick 2m 3f (4) sft in Mar.
