held up towards rear, headway approaching 2 out, left 3rd after last until no extra close home
prominent, weakened after 2 out, left 3rd after last
chased leaders, weakened 3 out
chased leaders, kept on from last, no impression
held up, headway 3 out and mistake, kept on to take 3rd close home
towards rear, blundered 2 out, never dangerous
chased leaders, weakened 2 out
chased leaders, not fluent 4 out, led last, driven out
led, headed last, kept on flat, no chance with winner
chased leaders and keen, in 3rd, one pace, fell last
towards rear and mistakes, tailed off 4th
held up mid-division, headway approaching 3 out, weakened approaching next
SIGNALMAN made a very pleasing debut over hurdles last time in what appeared quite a decent event and can land this for the Peter Montieth yard. Blacks Bridge, an Irish point-to-point winner and Elzahann, a quick ground Catterick bumper winner could be the ones to give him most to do. Conditions were far from ideal for hurdling debutants on the particular day Signalman was introduced to hurdling. His rider committed a fair way from home at Newcastle and he was probably outstayed in the end but with slightly more conservative tactics, he should be thereabouts. Blacks Bridge finished fifth behind his stable companion On Raglan Road on his second start in Irish 'points', 14 lengths behind the eventual winner. Elzahann caused a huge shock when winning her bumper at 100/1, beating Present Gesture who has subsequently landed two bumpers. She encounters much different ground conditions today. Bajan Parkes was rated in the mid-80s on the level, racing predominantly over 12 furlongs. Bracken Lad showed lots of promise on debut in the winners bumper at Ayr's Scottish Grand National meeting. By Presenting, it could have been that the ground was too soft for him at Hexham on his return. Signalman is given the vote to win it.
Always Best 12-1 (8-11) Made most until headed 5f out, weakened 4f out, 12th of 14, well behind Quitit (8-13) at Catterick 2m hcp 0-70 (5) gs in Oct (Flat).
Bajan Parkes 50-1 (9-2) Held up, headway on outer over 3f, weakened well over 1f, 9th of 13, 12l behind Meshtri (8-10) at Haydock 1m 6f hcp 0-90 (3) gf in Sept (Flat).
Blacks Bridge (IRE) (12-0) 4th of 10, 14l behind On Raglan Road (12-0) at Dundrum 3m ire ptp hvy in Mar.
Black Tom Tyrant (IRE) 66-1 (10-5) Mid-division, outpaced when hit 4 out, no impression when pulled up at the last in race won by Cadoudalas (10-12) at Newcastle 2m 4f nov hdl (4) gs in Jan, 16 ran.
Bracken Lad (IRE) 9-2jt-fav (10-11) Towards rear, pushed along over 5f out, headway under pressure over 3f out, no further progress, 6th of 10, 25l behind Bygones of Brid (10-13) at Hexham 2m nhf (6) sft in Oct.
Brian's Journey 11-2 (10-12) Towards rear, not fluent 1st, headway approaching 4 out, weakened approaching 3 out, 15th of 16, well behind Burnt Oak (10-12) at Newcastle 2m nov hdl (4) gs.
Dark Gentleman 11-4 (10-11) Held up, headway over 3f out, ridden and stayed on final 2f, 3rd of 13, 10l behind Kingsben (11-4) at Catterick 2m nhf (5) gd in Dec.
Executive Xpress 66-1 (10-11) Led for 1f, chased leaders until weakened over 5f out, 9th of 15, 26l behind Conflictofinterest (11-2) at Ayr 2m nhf (3) gd in Apr.
Marieschi (USA) 16-1 (9-5) Held up, ridden halfway, some late headway, 6th of 14, 12l behind Capal Dubh Alainn (9-4) at Catterick 2m hcp 0-60 (6) gd in Oct (Flat).
Oscar Wild 100-1 (10-12) Brought down, held up when brought down 4 out in race won by Fredo (10-12) at Haydock 2m nov hdl (4) gf, 16 ran.
Signalman 4-1 (10-5) Held up mid-division, headway 4 out, led next, headed close home, 2nd of 16, hd behind Burnt Oak (10-12) at Newcastle 2m nov hdl (4) gs.
Sirkeel (FR) Dolphin Street gelding out of Sirkeela.
Solis (GER) 33-1 (10-5) Mid-division, headway to chase leaders approaching 3 out, weakened next, 8th of 16, 13l behind Bolodenka (10-12) at Newcastle 2m nov hdl (4) gs.
Bollin Fiona 66-1 (8-9) Mid-division, ridden along over 3f out, soon behind, last of 9, 27l behind Tarteel (9-0) at Haydock 1m 2yo mdn fll (5) gd in Sept '06 (Flat).
Elzahann (IRE) 100-1 (10-9) Held up mid-division, ridden over 4f out, headway over 3f out, led over 1f out, kept on, won at Catterick 2m mrs nhf (6) gf in Mar beating Present Gesture (11-0) by 1/2l, 16 ran.
Paradise Walk 12-1 (10-5) Mid-division, weakened from 3 out, 4th of 10, 41l behind Mamlook (10-12) at Market Rasen 2m 1f 3yo mdn hdl (4) gd in Nov '07.
