in touch, lost place 11th, soon behind, pulled up before 15th
led, headed approaching 3 out, soon ridden, weakened next
chased leader, blundered 10th, outpaced 4 out, soon beaten
held up towards when fell 14th
held up behind, headway 12th, challenged 4 out, led before next, 2 lengths clear last, ridden, drifted right flat, headed near finish
mid-division, outpaced 5 out, never dangerous
chased leaders, weakened 4 out
mid-division, ridden, headway 4 out, chased leader 3 out to next, no impression approaching last
mid-division, lost place 12th, tailed off when pulled up before 4 out
behind, driven 10th, soon struggling, tailed off when pulled up before 15th
held up, headway 14th, went 2nd 2 out, ridden, 2 lengths down last, stayed on well flat, led near finish
always behind, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out
tracked leaders, hit 13th, lost place 5 out, soon weakened, tailed off when pulled up before last
mistakes, in touch, ridden, lost place 14th, soon behind, tailed off when pulled up before 4 out
Nonrunner
Several in with claims here but our short-list comprises Standandbecounted, Smart Man and Deuteronomy with the latter suggested. The selection represents the yard that was responsible for last year's winner (2006 winner Middleway lines up again) and comes here having fallen at Newcastle but he was travelling well enough at the time. That was just his first run over fences so his jumping has to be taken on trust, as does his stamina, but we don't believe either will be a problem. Two of his best performances over hurdles came at this track to provide another tick in the positive column whilst his yard saddled a welcome winner earlier in the month. Standandbecounted left some poor efforts over hurdles behind to score on his chase bow at Huntingdon. His jumping was far from faultless and may prove more of a problem than his 8lb higher mark but he makes the long journey north from Newmarket and must be respected. Smart Man is another unexposed as a chaser having had just two starts in this discipline back in May. He didn't excel on either occasion but is in far better form now than he was at the time and it would be no surprise to see him leave those efforts behind. Those are just three to consider in an open race but Deuteronomy makes plenty of appeal in our book.
Standandbecounted 25-1 (9-7) Held up mid-division, headway 10th, led 11th, pushed along 2 out, hard ridden and stayed on well under pressure, just held on, won at Huntingdon 3m hcp 0-100 (4) gd beating Lescer's Lad (10-5) by a hd, 8 ran.
Whistle Blowing (IRE) 7-2jt-fav (10-8) Held up in touch, close 3rd when slipped up 3 out in race won by Springaway (10-0) at Catterick 3m 1f nov hcp chs 0-100 (4) gf, 11 ran.
Carroll's O'Tully (IRE) 3-1 (10-4) Led, mistake 8th, driven 14th, headed next, weakened after 3 out, 3rd of 7, 11l behind Fine By Me (11-5) at Plumpton 3m 2f nov hcp chs 0-100 (4) gs in Nov.
Treefella (IRE) 22-1 (10-12) Held up, tailed off from 3 out, last of 8, well behind Quillan Hill (11-5) at Market Rasen 2m 1f nh nov hdl (4) gd.
Deuteronomy (IRE) 9-2 (10-7) In touch, chasing winner when fell 3 out in race won by Woodview (10-5) at Newcastle 2m 4f hcp chs 0-90 (5) gs in Jan, 16 ran.
Baawrah 14-1 (10-11) Mid-division, struggling from 12th, 4th of 11, 29l behind Springaway (10-0) at Catterick 3m 1f nov hcp chs 0-100 (4) gf.
Fourpointone 16-1 (10-6) Chased leaders, driven 12th, hit next, weakening when blundered 4 out, 5th of 11, 33l behind Springaway (10-0) at Catterick 3m 1f nov hcp chs 0-100 (4) gf.
Smart Man 13-2 (11-7) In touch, ridden to chase leader after 3 out, challenged next, kept on and every chance until no extra flat, 2nd of 15, 2 1/2l behind Silver Seeker (11-12) at Catterick 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-95 (5) gf.
Red Dawn (IRE) 10-1 (9-10) Behind, reminded after 3rd, headway 5th, outpaced 5 out, soon ridden and beaten, 4th of 10, 29l behind Northern Quest (10-12) at Newcastle 2m hcp chs 0-105 (4) gd.
Honor And Glory 4-1 (10-10) Led, headed 3rd, weakened 8th, 8th of 10, 47l behind Cleymor House (10-5) at Hereford 2m hcp chs 0-90 (5) gd.
Shulmin 11-1 (10-0) Chased leaders, weakened from 8th, tailed off when pulled up 2 out in race won by Boris The Blade (11-7) at Ayr 3m cnd hcp hdl 0-95 (5) hvy, 11 ran.
Quinntowin (IRE) 25-1 (10-8) Always behind, 11th of 19, 48l behind Dalawan (11-5) at Ayr 2m 4f cnd hcp hdl 0-90 (5) sft in Feb.
Middleway 22-1 (10-0) In touch, outpaced 4 out, headway under pressure 3 out, kept on, 3rd of 15, 4 1/2l behind Got The Gift (10-9) at Sedgefield 3m 3f cnd hcp chs (5) gd in Nov.
Tudor Oak (IRE) 100-1 (10-9) With leader, lost place before 4th, lost touch 6th, soon tailed off, 5th of 6, well behind In Accord (11-0) at Doncaster 3m beg chs (4) gd.
Westmorland (IRE) 8-1 (11-5) Towards rear, struggling from halfway, 8th of 17, 22l behind Lazy Lena (11-1) at Hexham 2m 4f cnd sll hcp hdl (5) gs in Jun.
Celtic Flow 10-1 (10-2) Chased leader, led approaching 6th, headed 8th, led again 11th, hit 5 out, soon headed, weakened from next, 5th of 6, well behind Super Road Train (11-5) at Wetherby 3m 4f hcp chs 0-100 (4) gf in Nov.
