led to 4th, tracked leader, pushed along after 12th, lost place 5 out, left poor 3rd from 4 out
tracked leaders, led 4th, left clear 4 out, ridden and headed before last, kept on same pace
held up in rear and in touch, pushed along 12th, left 2nd 4 out, led before last, kept on well
tracked leaders, mistake 4th, weakened from 9th, pulled up before 4 out
tracked leader, mistake 2nd, a length down in 2nd when fell 4 out
REPENDER bounced back to form over course and distance earlier in the month and this looks no tougher despite a 6lb rise. He has a fitness advantage over Doubledisdoubledat, who ended last season with wins at Carlisle and Kelso. Oscar Lateen ran well on his chasing bow at Kelso recently but dual hurdles winner Markem failed to complete when taking on the larger obstacles at Sedgefield. Dingo Bay has won three times over fences but all of them in heavy ground at Newcastle.
Doubledisdoubledat (IRE) 2-1 (10-4) Made all, mistake 3rd, ridden after 2 out, stayed on gamely, won at Kelso 2m 5f nov hcp chs (0-125) (3) gd in Apr beating Mandarin Sunset (11-3) by 3/4l, 5 ran.
Markem (IRE) 12-1 (10-11) Tracked leaders in 4th, pushed along and lost place 9th, soon tailed off, pulled up after 2 out, in a race won by Sharp Rise (11-0) at Sedgefield 2m 4f nov hcp chs 0-120 (4) gs in Oct, 8 ran.
Redpender (IRE) 2-1fav (10-5) Chased leader who went clear from 2nd, 3rd before 6th, closed approaching 4 out, challenged 2 out, soon led, driven clear flat, won at Ayr 2m 4f hcp chs 0-115 (4) gs beating Carlos Fandango (10-13) by 4l, 6 ran.
Dingo Bay 10-1 (10-4) Mid-division, ridden before 4 out, soon weakened, 5th of 9, well behind Ultra Du Chatelet (11-2) at Hexham 3m 1f hcp chs 0-120 (4) sft in May.
Oscar Lateen (IRE) 17-2 (11-0) Tracked leader, led after 2nd, headed halfway, led again 5 out, headed 4 out, one pace from 2 out, 4th of 9, 6l behind Some Lad (10-7) at Kelso 2m 1f nov hcp chs 0-105 (4) gd in Oct.
