behind, went 5th after 8th, soon very remote
chased leaders, not fluent 5th, lost place and jumped right 8th, soon remote in 4th and carried on jumping right
towards rear, last and niggled along after 5th, tailed off 8th
prominent, lost place before 8th, soon tailed off
mid-division, not fluent and ridden 7th, tailed off from next
chased leaders on outside, jumped a little slow at timed, switched left and closed 2 out, led last, stayed on well
led until 4th, prominent, led 3 out, edged right before headed last, no impression towards finish
chased leaders, led 4th, mistake and headed 3 out, bumped before last, 3rd and held flat
Mistakes at the final two flights cost the gambled-on ZAMBEZI FIX dear at Limerick three weeks ago but he should recoup losses here with a clear round. Fellow Irish raider Babysean won a maiden point in October but The Ferry Master may be a bigger danger having just come up short at Hexham in the same month when making his debut under Rules. Mayo Star was placed twice at Kelso in 2017 but is having a first run since having transferred to the Nicky Richards yard.
Babysean (IRE) 3-1 (12-2) Ww twrds rr, nt fluent early, 10l last 1/2way, 6l 4th aftr 10th, clsing 3rd 2out, chall last where outjmpd, rallied well, won at Castletown-Geoghegan 3m mdn sft in Oct beating Pyrios (12-2), 5 ran.
Bluefortytwo 14-1 (11-10) Held up mid-division, not fluent 6th, pushed along and progress before 3 out, ridden approaching 2 out, weakened last, 8th of 10, 9 3/4l behind Gennady (11-12) at Newcastle 2m hcp (4) sft in Jan.
Dreal Deal (IRE) 20-1 (10-8) Always towards rear, slight mistake 8th, ridden and no impression before 3 out, no extra, 11th of 16, dist behind Frere Fontaine (10-11) at Limerick 2m 5f hcp hvy in Dec.
Fairlee Clever (IRE) 7-1 (12-0) Strugg 9; t.o & pu 2 out, at Hexham 3m mdn hvy in Apr.
Grumpy Boots (IRE) 33-1 (10-12) Chased leaders on outside, lost place before 8th, well beaten from 4 out, 8th of 9, dist behind Uptown Harry (10-12) at Kelso 2m 7f mdn (4) sft in Dec.
Mayo Star (IRE) 9-4 (10-12) Chased leaders, led before 2 out, headed last and not fluent, kept on, 2nd of 11, nk behind Coole Hall (10-12) at Kelso 2m 5f (4) gd in Oct.
The Ferry Master (IRE) 9-2 (11-0) Mid-division on outside, not fluent 5th, headway before 7th, went 2nd after 2 out, led before last, soon headed, lost 2nd post, 3rd of 11, 1 3/4l behind Darry Desbois (11-0) at Hexham 2m 4f mdn (5) sft in Oct.
Zambezi Fix (FR) 2-1fav (11-9) Chased leader, 5th after 6th, progress after 8th, headway after 3 out, strongly challenged 2 out where stumbled, soon ridden, bad mistake at last and dropped to 3rd, no extra and lost 3rd close home, 4th of 17, 11 1/4l behind Eleazar Des Neiges (11-12) at Limerick 2m 3f mdn Soft - Heavy in Dec.
