held up mid-division, headway to chase leaders after 4 out, soon ridden, every chance run-in, no extra last 50 yards
chased leader, ridden before 3 out, soon weakened
held up mid-division, lost place halfway, tailed off 7th, pulled up
always towards rear
prominent, pushed along before 3 out, switched left run-in, kept on to lead towards finish
chased leaders, lost place before 7 out, tailed off 4 out
held up mid-division, headway before 7 out, ridden after 4 out, soon weakened
led to 2 out, mistake last, soon weakened
tracked leaders, led and blundered 2 out, kept on and headed towards finish
in rear, headway before 5 out, kept on from 2 out, one pace
held up towards rear, blundered 9th, headway after 4 out, one pace and no impression
Winning form on this track is an advantage and Benefit In Kind, Tears From Heaven and WAKHAN are all previous course and distance winners. The latter beat Top Cat Dj by just under four lengths at the track on New Year's Day and can confirm the form and take this, despite a 6lb higher mark. Runswick Relax had Trouble In Paris well behind when winning over a shorter trip at Catterick last month but Flaming Thistle has only ever won at Hexham and is now in the veteran stage. The others are all struggling at present.
Itsnoteasyted (IRE) 33-1 (11-4) Tracked leaders, slight mistake 4 out, no extra 2 out, 7th of 15, dist behind Nevskij (11-4) at Punchestown 2m 6f Soft - Heavy in Dec.
Wakhan (IRE) 11-4fav (10-9) Always prominent, driven to challenge after 4 out, every chance from next, led after last, kept on well under pressure (3 fences ommited), won at Musselburgh 3m hcp (4) gs in Jan beating Top Cat Dj (10-0) by 3 3/4l, 9 ran.
Benefit In Kind (IRE) 11-1 (10-1) Chased leaders, ridden after 11th, outpaced when mistake next, no impression when left 3rd 3 out, well held after, 3rd of 10, 28l behind Benenden (11-12) at Musselburgh 3m hcp (4) gs in Jan.
Proud Gamble (IRE) 12-1 (10-8) Pulled hard, in touch when fell 2nd, at Musselburgh 3m hcp (4) gs in Jan.
Solway Bay 33-1 (10-2) Mid-division, lost place 8th, soon behind and struggling, mistake and unseated rider 10th, at Musselburgh 3m hcp (4) gs in Jan.
Flaming Thistle (IRE) 11-2 (11-5) Soon behind, chased leading pair after 11th, 5 lengths down when went 2nd 2 out, ridden and upsides last, led final 100 yards, kept on, won at Hexham 3m 1f hcp (4) hvy in May beating Nalim (11-12) by 3l, 4 ran.
Tears From Heaven (USA) 100-1 (10-0) Chased leaders, reminders after 8th, weakened 11th, tailed off after next, soon pulled up, at Musselburgh 3m hcp (4) gs in Jan.
Top Cat Dj (IRE) 20-1 (10-0) Led, strongly challenged from 3 out, headed after last, hard ridden and no extra towards finish, 2nd of 9, 3 3/4l behind Wakhan (10-9) at Musselburgh 3m hcp (4) gs in Jan.
Runswick Relax 11-4fav (10-0) Prominent, led 3rd, headed next, every chance 2 out, led after last, hard ridden, all out, won at Catterick 2m 3f hcp (5) sft in Dec beating Rosquero (10-5) by 1 1/4l, 10 ran.
Under The Red Sky (IRE) 80-1 (11-0) Held up 4th and last, struggling 13th, tailed off from 4 out, last of 4, dist behind Definitly Red (11-0) at Catterick 3m 1f (4) sft in Jan.
Trouble In Paris (IRE) 11-1 (10-2) In touch, mistake 1st, headway under pressure 10th, chased leaders next, weakened last, 3rd of 10, 19 1/4l behind Runswick Relax (10-0) at Catterick 2m 3f hcp (5) sft in Dec.
