held up, closed 5th, not much room and went 2nd 4 out, led before 2 out, all out
reluctant to race and lost at least 20 lengths, latched onto rear of field before 5th, hit 7th and not jump that well after, struggling 9th, well behind when mistake 12th, tailed off
led, hit 2nd and 3 out, headed before 2 out, held flat, stayed on towards finish
held up, not fluent 3rd, headway on outside 9th, mistake 4 out, went 3rd when mistake 2 out, disputing 2nd flat, no extra towards finish
chased leader, mistake 2nd, struggling 10th, behind 12th
chased leaders, went 2nd after 4th until 6th, went 2nd 11th until before 4 out, no extra 2 out
Marracudja beat a subsequent winner by 26 lengths at Fontwell at the start of the month so could be considered well handicapped raised only 3lb having won off higher marks in the past, including on his only previous run here. But SLANELOUGH came good in the spring and was up against a couple of potentially well-treated Irish imports on his reappearance at Carlisle, where he led for a long way. His jumping is much more reliable nowadays so he gets a tentative vote getting 8lb from the Skelton runner and 11lb from Wetherby runner-up Gaelik Coast. Dino Boy and the returning Cedar Hill could also play a part.
Gaelik Coast (FR) 11-4 (11-6) Held up in last, headway on outside 11th, went 2nd 2 out, soon led, out-jumped and headed last, stayed on, just held, 2nd of 5, hd behind Whoshotthesheriff (11-10) at Wetherby 2m 3f hcp (3) gd in Oct.
Marracudja (FR) 11-10fav (12-0) Led 1st, headed after 8th, mistake 4 out, led before 3 out, well clear from 2 out, won at Fontwell 2m 2f hcp (3) hvy in Oct beating Darebin (10-9) by 26l, 3 ran.
Slanelough (IRE) 4-1 (11-3) Led, ridden before 2 out, headed 2 out, kept on one pace, 3rd of 5, 5 1/4l behind Arvico Bleu (11-8) at Carlisle 2m hcp (3) gd in Oct.
Cedar Hill (IRE) 3-1fav (11-1) Prominent, carried right by loose horse before 5th, led 4 out, clear after 3 out, 4 lengths ahead last, reduced lead flat, headed and no extra towards finish, 3rd of 10, 1l behind Valence D'Aumont (10-8) at Kelso 2m 1f hcp (3) gd in May.
Dino Boy (FR) 10-3 (11-13) Prominent, chased clear leader from 6 out, pushed along and headway before 2 out, pressed leaders and every chance last, ridden flat and looked held until rallied close home, just denied, 2nd of 5, shd behind Kilbrook (11-11) at Carlisle 2m 4f hcp (4) gd in Oct.
Elmono (FR) 11-2 (12-0) Led, bad mistake and unseated 4th, at Kelso 2m 6f hcp (4) gd in Sep.
