tracked leaders, challenged after 5th, led 3 out, mistake and headed 2 out, led again last, soon headed, stayed on same pace
held up in rear, not fluent and ridden 3rd, modest 6th 2 out, never on terms with leaders
tracked leaders, hit 3rd, weakened approaching 3 out
led, jumped left and headed 3 out, weakened before last
held up in rear, blundered 4th, 8th and struggling when jumped left and pecked 3 out, never on terms
tracked leaders on outside, lost place 5th, closed before 3 out, soon carried head awkwardly, 3rd when not fluent 2 out, stayed on same pace last
held up in rear, headway approaching 3 out, 5th when blundered 2 out, no chance with leaders when taking 4th last
travelled well in mid-division, closed after 4th, led when mistake 2 out, mistake and headed last, soon led again, shaken up to assert, ran on well
mid-division, not fluent 2nd, struggling 5th, pulled up before 3 out
mid-division, took keen hold, bumped 4th, struggling next, mistake 3 out
prominent, jumped left 2nd, ridden after 5th, weakened before 3 out
It's taken a while for the penny to drop with BLACKWATER KING but he never looked in any danger at Kelso last time. He has 11st12lb to contend with in this finale but that's because he's the best horse in the race and, the three-year-old excepted, the weights are fairly compacted in any case. Renoyr may be the danger on his UK debut and he's been placed on four occasions in Ireland as Dotties Dilema looks held on a line through Hexham winner Gymdoli while Crystal Swing is starting to run out of chances. Folkestone winner Wily Fox could only finish fifth off this mark at Fakenham next time and the jury is out on Swaledale Lad and Glassawine at present.
Blackwater King (IRE) 8-11fav (10-12) Chased leaders, went 2nd at 3rd, led narrowly 5th, clear 2 out, stayed on strongly, won at Kelso 2m nh nov hdl (4) sft beating Gymdoli (11-5) by 10l, 13 ran.
Dotties Dilema (IRE) 11-4fav (11-5) Mid-division and keen, headway before last, led last, kept on and headed last 50 yards, 2nd of 13, 2 1/4l behind Gymdoli (10-12) at Hexham 2m NH nov hdl 4-6yo (4) hvy in Nov.
Oakwell (IRE) 22-1 (10-10) Chased leaders, fell 3rd, in a race won by Forgotten Symphony (10-5) at Market Rasen 2m 1f nh nov hdl (4) gd in Jul, 12 ran.
Swaledale Lad (IRE) 25-1 (11-12) Always towards rear, 9th of 16, 36l behind Rear Admiral (11-1) at Catterick 2m 3f con hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gs.
Wily Fox 6-1 (11-12) Raced wide in rear, headway 3 out, ridden next, kept on one pace, 5th of 12, 10l behind Shilpa (10-5) at Fakenham 2m hcp hdl 0-105 (4) sft.
Party Rock (IRE) 33-1 (10-11) Rear of mid-division, some headway into 9th approaching 3 out, 6th 2 out, no impression and kept on one pace, 5th of 18, 14l behind Pique Sous (11-12) at Thurles 2m Maiden Hurdle (5-6yo) in Oct.
Crystal Swing 11-1 (11-7) Took keen hold towards rear, headway approaching 2 out, kept on flat, never going pace to trouble leaders, 4th of 12, 11l behind Invicta Lake (11-4) at Fontwell 2m 2f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) sft.
Renoyr (FR) 8-1 (11-5) Soon mid-division, some progress into moderate 4th after 3 out, no impression next, ran on without troubling winner run-in, 2nd of 13, 3 1/2l behind Dont Tell Pa (10-12) at Tramore 2m hcp hdl 80-95 sft in Oct.
Glassawine 7-2fav (11-2) Mid-division, mistake 3rd, headway 6th, ridden approaching 3 out, soon beaten, weakened next, 10th of 13, 25l behind Josh's Dreamway (10-12) at Exeter 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gd in Mar.
Oscar Flyer (IRE) 16-1 (11-12) Held up towards rear, struggling in 6th 3 out, went left next, tailed off, 7th of 10, 50l behind Aureate (10-2) at Fontwell 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-95 (5) sft.
Cropley (IRE) 12-1 (10-5) Led until after 1st, pushed along after 5th, 4th and weakening when blundered 2 out, 4th of 8, 39l behind Vasco D'ycy (10-12) at Newbury 2m 3yo hdl (3) sft in Nov.
