tracked leaders, let front pair go clear 7th, closed 10th, led after 16th, clear before 2 out, easily
held up, mistake and unseated rider 9th
tracked leader, blundered 4th, reminders after 15th, hit next, weakened 4 out, hit 3 out, left poor 3rd when fell last
held up, closed 13th, went 3rd before 4 out, no impression when mistake 2 out, left remote 2nd last
tracked leaders, lost place when mistake 7th, not fluent 9th, mistake 14th, weakened after 16th, left poor 3rd when hampered last and pulled up
held up, blundred and unseated rider 4th
led, jumped right 15th, headed after next, well held by winner in 2nd 2 out, fell last
Commercial Express beat Sir Bathwick by a length-and-a-quarter in this 12 months ago but the runner-up is 12lb better off at the weights today and should turn the tables. Special Portrait is very consistent and won't mind the ground. He has to carry an extra penalty in this but is unlikely to be far away, while Hurlstone Tower and Canndar are both recent winners between the flags. MISS VIVIAN won over 2m5f here last May but has shown herself to be well suited by further since in point-to-points, scoring easily at Dalston earlier this month. She faces her toughest task to date today but may well be progressive enough to land the spoils.
Special Portrait (IRE) 4-6fav (12-5) Tracked leaders, led 10th, strongly challenged from 3 out, forged clear closing stages, kept on well under pressure (3 fences ommited), won at Sedgefield 3m 3f hts chs (6) gs beating Oranger (11-7) by 4 1/2l, 4 ran.
Commercial Express (IRE) 5-1 (12-5) Strugg aft 15, 4th of 5, 8l behind Monogram (12-5) at Overton 3m ptp gd in Mar.
Canndar (IRE) 4-1 (12-5) Led to 6; outpcd aft 15; rallied 2 out; jnd ldr on line, won at Overton 3m ptp gd in Mar deadheating with Almost Blue (12-5), 4 ran.
Hawthorne Bay 10-1 (11-7) Mistake, hampered and unseated rider 1st, in a race won by Highland Cathedral (11-7) at Kelso 3m 1f hts chs (5) gd, 10 ran.
Honest And True (IRE) 20-1 (11-7) Held up in rear, headway 3 out, soon no impression, 8th of 12, well behind Trifollet (11-2) at Sedgefield 2m 4f nov hts chs (6) gs.
Risk Assesment (IRE) 25-1 (11-7) Prominent when went right and fell 1st, in a race won by Highland Cathedral (11-7) at Kelso 3m 1f hts chs (5) gd, 10 ran.
Sir Bathwick (IRE) 9-2 (11-0) (cp) (tt) led to 2; led 11 til hdd 2 out; no ex flat, 2nd of 3, nk behind Special Occasion (11-0) at Larkhill 3m ptp fm in Mar.
Hurlstone Tower (IRE) 5-1 (12-0) Prog 11; led flat; rdn out, won at Dalston 3m ptp gd beating Mister Splodge (12-0) by 2l, 13 ran.
Miss Vivian (IRE) 5-4 (12-0) Led to 4; led app last; rdly, won at Dalston 3m ptp gd beating Joueur D'Estruval (12-0) by 5l, 7 ran.
Port Echo 8-1 (11-7) Prog 15; outpcd aft nxt, 5th of 16, 16l behind Morello Mist (11-7) at Dalston 3m ptp gd.
