tracked leaders, led approaching 3 out, under pressure last, hard ridden flat, kept on
held up behind and keen, headway 3 out, challenged last, every chance flat, no extra towards finish
held up mid-division, headway approaching 3 out, weakened approaching 2 out
always behind, tailed off halfway
prominent, every chance approaching 3 out, ridden and weakened approaching last
held up towards rear, weakened approaching 2 out
held up towards rear, weakened 4 out
chased leaders, blundered and unseated rider 1st
led, headed approaching 3 out, soon weakened
held up, headway after 4 out, ridden approaching 3 out, one pace
tracked leader, ridden and weakened approaching 3 out
tracked leaders, quickly lost place and tailed off halfway, pulled up before 3 out
A poor contest where SEEKING STRAIGHT is the very tentative suggestion, while Of Course may give him most to do. The Lucinda Russell-trained selection stays at least this far and loves the mud. He is back on the same mark as when going close over this trip at Ayr last December, and coming here on the back of a poor effort last time he might just represent a bit of value in what is a very tricky contest to gauge. Of Course was runner-up over course and distance last time, acts on the ground, and is just 2lbs higher, so he is bound to prove popular with punters. However, lumping top weight around in this ground will not be easy. Samizdat was a beaten favourite in that same race contested by Of Course, and while he acts with cut, a ratio of one win from 30 starts is hardly encouraging. Insignia makes the frame on occasion, but a 20-length defeat in a Sedgefield seller is unlikely to have them knocking over the bookies, while Amjad likes it here but looks to be in the grip of the assessor. Toy Gun is another track specialist who loves the mud, though this trip looks plenty short enough for him, and we will suggest Seeking Straight.
Of Course (FR) 15-2 (11-1) Tracked leaders, chased winner 3 out, kept on, no impression, 2nd of 10, 4l behind Do It For Dalkey (10-3) at Carlisle 2m 4f nov hcp hdl 0-100 (4) sft.
Below The Deck (IRE) 50-1 (10-10) Tracked leaders, ridden and outpaced 2 out, soon lost place, weakened approaching last, 5th of 7, 36l behind Noble Alan (11-3) at Hexham 2m beg chs (5) gd in Oct.
Mister Pete (IRE) 25-1 (11-1) Always towards rear, 10th of 18, 45l behind Cassius (11-2) at Newcastle 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gd in Mar.
Stolen Light (IRE) 66-1 (10-11) Always behind, weakened approaching 3 out, last of 8, well behind Dontpaytheferryman (11-7) at Carlisle 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) sft.
Samizdat (FR) 7-2fav (11-0) Held up, headway 4 out, chased leaders next, one pace, 4th of 10, 13l behind Do It For Dalkey (10-3) at Carlisle 2m 4f nov hcp hdl 0-100 (4) sft.
Briery Star 5-1fav (11-7) Held up mid-division, headway on outside 9th, outpaced when mistake 2 out, kept on approaching last, no impression, 5th of 11, 7l behind Duke of Malfi (11-2) at Hexham 2m hcp chs 0-95 (5) gs.
Toy Gun (IRE) 7-1 (11-1) Tracked leaders, ridden approaching 4 out, weakened next, 5th of 10, 20l behind Treehouse (9-12) at Carlisle 3m 2f hcp chs 0-105 (4) sft.
Insignia (IRE) 9-1 (10-12) Tracked leader, pushed along after 3 out, soon weakened, 4th of 8, 21l behind Planetarium (10-12) at Sedgefield 2m 4f sll hdl (5) gd.
Seeking Straight (IRE) 9-1 (11-9) In rear, reminders early, weakened 4 out, 8th of 12, well behind Dukeofchesterwood (11-5) at Newcastle 3m hcp hdl 0-90 (5) gs.
Amjad 7-1 (9-7) In touch, outpaced 3 out, 3rd of 8, 15l behind Dontpaytheferryman (11-7) at Carlisle 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) sft.
Janal (IRE) 28-1 (10-9) Always behind, 9th of 11, 33l behind Duke of Malfi (11-2) at Hexham 2m hcp chs 0-95 (5) gs.
Miss Colima 100-1 (10-0) Led, headed approaching 5 out, quickly lost place, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out, in a race won by Do It For Dalkey (10-3) at Carlisle 2m 4f nov hcp hdl 0-100 (4) sft, 10 ran.
