led to 6th, led again 10th, made rest, stayed on strongly flat
towards rear, weakened halfway, tailed off when pulled up before 11th
towards rear, mistake 8th, weakened 12th
towards rear, blundered badly 3rd, soon pulled up
mid-division, headway halfway to track leaders, every chance 3 out and next, one pace approaching last
in touch, reminders halfway, pushed along 10th, outpaced approaching 2 out, rallied approaching last, stayed on to chase winner towards finish
in touch, fell 10th
towards rear, weakened halfway, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out
towards rear, weakened halfway, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out
with leader, led 6th to 10th, remained prominent, weakening when mistake 2 out, tailed off when pulled up before last
tracked leaders, pushed along 12th, outpaced approaching 2 out
Warren Marston travels north to Hexham for the mount on Lantern Lad and we agree with the jockey's optimism that he can take this novices' handicap contest, with perhaps Briars Mist and Polar Gunner others who can go well. The selection took a similar race last time out at Uttoxeter by eight lengths and was good value for a bit further. He handles testing conditions well and looks set for a decent career as a staying chaser in moderate company, so he can take this en route. The key to Briars Mist is his jumping. He was thrashed here last time by Cionn Mhalanna, but would have finished closer had he not put in one or two clumsy leaps. If he can get that right this time then he can make the frame again, and he doesn't mind plenty of cut. Polar Gunner is another who needs to improve to have any chance of winning, but showed a glimmer of form behind Fashions Monty here last time. He should relish the cut and can take closer order now, while Chicago Breeze should not be far away from him on their running last time and with Ferdy Murphy in cracking form he can go well, but Lantern Lad is the one they all have to beat and we take him to score.
