always towards rear, hampered slightly 5th, weakened from 16th, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out
led to 2nd, tracked leaders, fell 5th
held up mid-division, chased leaders before 10th, went 2nd before next, ridden to lead before and mistake last, kept on
chased leaders, weakened from 5 out, went poor 4th before 2 out, never dangerous
in rear, pushed along and weakened 12th, tailed off and pulled up before 5 out
behind, slightly hampered 5th, never dangerous
held up mid-division, headway 15th, went 3rd before 3 out, ridden before and went 2nd last, kept on
close up, pushed along before 15th, weakened before 4 out, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out
led from 2nd, raced wide, ridden and headed before last, no extra towards finish
The luckless Esme Rides A Gaine will almost certainly be in the firing-line again but she gets no respite from the handicapper and has gone back up in the weights again since finishing second on soft ground over C&D at the start of the month. BALLYVONEEN is progressive and on a hat-trick after beating Cecily Parsley at Towcester last Friday. Effectively only 3lb higher, he gets the nod ahead of course specialist Toulouse Express and Soul Bid. Treehouse returned to form at Hexham last month, beating Beau Dandy in the process, though four of his five career wins have come at the Northumberland track.
Political Paddy 40-1 (11-0) Held up towards rear, never a factor, 7th of 11, well behind Fill The Power (11-0) at Sedgefield 2m 4f beg chase (4) gd.
Soul Bid (IRE) 13-5 (11-1) Tracked leader, mistake 14th, mistake 3 out, ridden before last, soon weakened, 3rd of 4, 36l behind Super Ally (11-0) at Kelso 2m 6f nov hcp chs 0-115 (4) gd in Mar.
Ballyvoneen (IRE) 7-1 (10-1) Tracked leaders, raced keenly, hit 11th, soon went 2nd, led approaching 2 out, went left last, ridden clear, won at Towcester 3m hcp chs 0-115 (4) gf beating Cecily Parsley (10-0) by 5l, 7 ran.
Beau Dandy (IRE) 9-2fav (11-10) Tracked leaders, close 4th 4 out, ridden 3 out, no impression approaching last, went 3rd flat, stayed on towards finish, 3rd of 11, 7l behind Treehouse (10-11) at Hexham 3m 1f hcp chs 0-95 (5) hvy in Apr.
Esme Rides A Gaine 6-1 (11-5) Led, ridden and headed before 2 out, kept on same pace, 2nd of 9, 3l behind Mansonien L'as (10-4) at Sedgefield 3m 3f hcp chs 0-95 (5) sft.
Chernik (IRE) 28-1 (11-0) Held up in rear, headway halfway, chased leaders 17th, weakened 4 out, 6th of 11, well behind Dove Hill (11-12) at Hexham 4m hcp ch 0-110 (4) gd in Mar.
Brize Norton (IRE) 9-4fav (11-9) Held up towards rear, fell 4th, in a race won by Amicelli (12-1) at Wetherby 3m 1f hts chs (6) gd in Mar, 8 ran.
Treehouse 13-2 (10-11) Led until approaching 4th, stayed prominent, challenged last, soon led, idled in front, ridden out, won at Hexham 3m 1f hcp chs 0-95 (5) hvy in Apr beating Melua Maid (10-13) by 2 3/4l, 11 ran.
Toulouse Express (IRE) 11-2 (10-3) Towards rear on outer, mistake 3rd, tailed off 16th, pulled up before 3 out, in a race won by Belmore Baron (10-10) at Sedgefield 3m 3f hcp ch 0-110 (4) gd in Mar, 10 ran.
