behind, headway to dispute 2nd before 4th, blundered and unseated rider 8th
in touch, dropped to rear 3rd, left 3rd at 8th, outpaced 4 out, plugged on from next, never on terms, weakened flat
close up when blundered and unseated rider 2nd
made virtually all, clear 8th to after 11th, hit next, clear again when blundered 15th, driven 2 out, kept on, ridden out flat
tracked winner, left clear 2nd at 8th, ridden to chase clear leader (winner) after 4 out, pecked next, kept on, always well held
KAYSERBERG was beaten when falling at the last in a Grade 2 at Doncaster last time but would probably have finished second had he stayed on his feet. He beat a decent sort at Wetherby on his chasing bow and may have too much for easy Newcastle winner Straidnahanna. Sue Smith's charge still makes more appeal than Southwell scorer George Fernbeck, however, while Wolf Shield was tailed off when reappearing after a break at Kelso. Gonow made mistakes at Carlisle last month and may need more time.
Wolf Shield (IRE) 5-2 (11-6) Tracked leaders, led 6th, headed 11th, led again 13th, headed 3 out, weakened next, last of 6, well behind Isla Pearl Fisher (10-13) at Kelso 2m 7f hcp chs 0-140 (3) gs in Nov.
George Fernbeck 5-2 (11-0) Tracked leaders in 3rd, pushed along before 11th, ridden before 15th, soon outpaced, kept on to go 2nd before 2 out, staying on when left in lead last, kept on, won at Southwell 3m nov chs (4) gd in Sep beating Heronry (11-6) by 1 1/2l, 3 ran.
Kaysersberg (FR) 5-2 (11-5) Tracked leaders, pecked 5th, disputing 2nd when fell last, in a race won by Virak (11-8) at Doncaster 3m nov chs Grade 2 (1) sft in Dec, 4 ran.
Straidnahanna (IRE) 2-1 (10-9) Made virtually all, driven clear from 4 out, unchallenged when mistake next, very easily, won at Newcastle 3m nov hcap ch (3) sft in Nov beating Stopped Out (11-8) by 41l, 4 ran.
Gonow 14-1 (10-4) Not fluent, in touch in rear, ridden 3 out, not trouble leaders, 5th of 7, 16l behind Big Water (11-0) at Carlisle 2m 5f nov hcap ch (3) hvy in Dec.
