led, blundered 7th, headed 9th, close up when fell next
tracked leader, led 9th, headed 4 out, soon weakened
held up towards rear, in rear and struggling from halfway
tracked leaders in 4th, went 2nd from 3 out until next, one pace
in rear, some headway from 3 out, soon ridden, no impression
close up, mistake 9th, soon lost place
held up mid-division, tracked leaders from 3rd, led 4 out, ridden before 2 out, headed last, kept on
held up towards rear, headway before 10th, went 2nd before 2 out, led last, kept on
Withdrawn
Snuker beat Fozy Moss by more than four lengths over a shorter trip at Hexham in November and is only a pound worse off. He handles this longer distance and should be thereabouts again while it would be no surprise to see old-timer Boris The Blade come back to form. CILLISEAL was second in this last year off a 9lb higher mark so we'll take Noel Kelly's raider to go one better, though Alexander Oats might show a bit more now tried in blinkers. The others have less obvious claims.
Snuker 6-4fav (10-1) Not fluent, made most until ridden and headed approaching last, kept on one pace, lost 2nd towards finish, 3rd of 10, 5l behind Brae On (10-7) at Kelso 3m 3f nov hcp hdl 0-100 (5) gs in Dec.
Boris The Blade 14-1 (11-7) Led, headed 6 out, pressed leaders 4 out, soon weakened, 8th of 14, 44l behind Esme Rides A Gaine (9-10) at Hexham 3m 1f hcp chs 0-95 (5) sft in Dec.
Cilliseal (IRE) 9-2 (10-1) Led to 2nd, remained in touch, pushed along after 18th, rallied to chase leaders after 2 out, soon ridden, weakened last, 5th of 8, 43l behind Merlin's Wish (11-6) at Hexham 4m hcp chs 0-120 (4) hvy in Nov.
Too Cool To Fool (IRE) 8-1 (10-0) Disputed lead to before 3 out, weakened next, 6th of 9, well behind Kris Cross (11-3) at Perth 3m 3f con hcp hdl 0-130 (3) gs in Apr.
Alexander Oats 16-1 (10-12) In touch, ridden after 5 out, kept on same pace under pressure from next, went 4th near finish, no impression, 4th of 13, 17l behind Presented (11-9) at Newcastle 3m hcp 0-100 (5) gd in Nov.
Fozy Moss 7-2fav (9-13) Chased leaders in 3rd, led 6 out, pressed 4 out, ridden before last, kept on and headed close home, 2nd of 14, shd behind Esme Rides A Gaine (9-10) at Hexham 3m 1f hcp chs 0-95 (5) sft in Dec.
Lord Fox (IRE) 10-1 (9-9) Chased leaders, unseated rider 8th, in a race won by Clondaw Flicka (11-12) at Wetherby 3m 1f nov hcp chs 0-110 (4) sft in Dec, 11 ran.
Arc Warrior (FR) 40-1 (10-2) Held up towards rear, mistake 12th, headway 4 out, challenged 2 out, ridden and every chance before last, no extra and lost 2nd place towards finish, 3rd of 14, 2l behind Esme Rides A Gaine (9-10) at Hexham 3m 1f hcp chs 0-95 (5) sft in Dec.
Barnevelder (IRE) 16-1 (10-12) Mistakes, in touch, dropped to mid-division 5th, lost place and reminder 10th, tailed off 13th, soon pulled up, in a race won by Presented (11-9) at Newcastle 3m hcp 0-100 (5) gd in Nov, 13 ran.
