not fluent and unseated rider 1st
chased leaders, not fluent 8th, mistake 15th, went 2nd next, every chance after 4 out, not fluent next, well held by winner from 2 out, lost 2nd close home
tracked leader, led 13th until next, weakened 3 out
led, hit 8th, not fluent 12th, headed next, hit 14th, weakened before 4 out, fell 3 out
in rear, not fluent 2nd or 9th, outpaced and behind from 15th
prominent until jumped slowly 9th, went 3rd after 4 out, one pace, no chance with winner from 2 out, went 2nd close home
raced wide, tracked leaders, not fluent 2nd, led 14th, drew well clear from 2 out
Nonrunner
Well Mett made a promising point-to-point debut last month and should have the stamina for this, though his lack of experience is a concern against seasoned campaigners. Moscow Menace wasn't beaten far at Carlisle last month and is consistent but he'd earlier proved no match for PENA DORADA at Kelso. Alan Brown's seven-year-old jumped well and stayed on strongly that day and there is no reason to believe either the runner-up, fourth Backstruther or sixth Back On The Road should turn the form around here. Dour stayer Captain Americo may be the pick of the remainder.
Back On The Road (IRE) 20-1 (11-11) Held up, not fluent 1st or 6th, closed 10th, lost place 12th, headway 3 out, no impression after next, one pace, 4th of 9, 22l behind Current Exchange (12-3) at Hexham 3m 1f hts chs (6) gs.
Moscow Menace (IRE) 13-2 (11-9) Chased leaders in 3rd, led 4 out, headed before 3 out, every chance and switched right before last, kept on and no extra towards finish, 2nd of 9, 1 1/2l behind Viking Rebel (11-5) at Carlisle 3m hts chs (6) gs in Mar.
Pena Dorada (IRE) 11-10 (11-0) Made virt all; stayed on wl, won at Berwickshire 3m ptp gs in Mar beating Bitter Blue (11-0) by 7l, 7 ran.
Captain Americo (IRE) 5-2 (12-0) (bl) led til hdd app 3 out; one pce flat, 3rd of 4, 11l behind Scarlet Fire (12-7) at Cumberland Farmers 3m ptp gs.
Raifteiri (IRE) 33-1 (11-7) Towards rear, headway 5 out, soon pushed along and weakened, 6th of 10, 45l behind Present Potential (11-9) at Kelso 3m 2f hts chs (5) sft.
Scrum V 9-2 (11-5) Chased leaders, hit 15th, chased winner before 2 out, kept on and always held, 2nd of 7, 7l behind Rosie Du Berlais (10-12) at Catterick 3m 1f nov hts chs (6) gs in Mar.
Well Mett (IRE) 5-1 (11-7) (tt) w ldrs til outpcd 3 out, 3rd of 6, 8l behind Shoreacres (11-7) at Hampshire 3m ptp gd in Mar.
Buckstruther (IRE) 6-4 (12-7) Ap; led 10; qcknd clr aft 2 out; held on wl flat, won at Cumberland Farmers 3m ptp gs beating Cave Hunter (12-0) by 1/2l, 5 ran.
