in touch, hampered 4th, chased leaders 5 out, challenged 3 out, ridden to go 2nd 2 out, kept on to lead towards finish, driven out
led and pulled hard, hung left and raced wide on paddock bend after 2nd, headed 3rd, weakened 5 out, pulled up before 4 out
tracked leaders, took keen hold, left in lead on paddock bend after 10th, reminder before next, ridden before 4 out, pressed from 2 out, headed towards finish, no extra
held up in rear and pulled hard, tracked leaders after 2nd, soon hung left and raced wide on paddock bend, led 3rd, hung left on paddock bend after 10th and headed, a close 2nd when fell 13th
held up in touch, chased leaders on inner approaching 11th, challenged 4 out, hung left approaching next, weakened 2 out, jumped badly left last
held up towards rear, jumped left 4th, and again 12th, weakened from 5 out
held up in rear, blundered 9th, weakened before 5 out, pulled up before next
Not Talking makes his debut over fences but has been in good form over hurdles and is probably on a decent mark. There's just a suspicion that 3m around here may be an insufficient test of stamina for the eight-year-old however. Aghill is another having his first start over the larger obstacles but has already won a point-to-point, while King Penda should do better now his attention is switched to chasing. Archie's Wish has already won twice over fences at Sedgefield and has the edge in experience over most of his rivals, but it may be worth giving another chance to COPPER'S GOLD. Campbell Gillies is back on board for the first time since the gelding made all in this race 12 months ago and the partnership will go close again if a first-time visor has the desired effect.
Aghill (IRE) 8-1 (11-12) Led until after 1st, chased leaders, challenged approaching 3 out, narrow lead approaching last, headed last 150 yards, no extra, 2nd of 15, 1 3/4l behind Too Cool To Fool (11-3) at Ayr 3m nov hcp hdl 0-95 (5) gs.
King Penda (IRE) 6-1 (10-12) Towards rear, mid-division approaching 7th, one pace approaching 3 out, weakened approaching last, 9th of 15, 32l behind What's Occurrin (10-11) at Carlisle 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gd in Oct.
Copper's Gold (IRE) 10-3 (10-12) Chased leaders on inside, stumbled on bend after 2nd, blundered badly 13th, weakened next, 6th of 10, 42l behind Desperate Dex (10-12) at Kelso 2m 6f ch (0-95) (5) gd in Oct.
Froggy Lane 200-1 (11-6) Tracked leaders in 3rd, hit 6th, weakened before 3 out, 12th of 14, well behind Jack The Gent (11-6) at Doncaster 2m 3f nh nov hdl (4) gd.
Archie's Wish 5-2fav (10-7) Tracked leaders, hit 1st, chased winner after 10th until approachiong 3 out, no extra from next, 3rd of 6, 11l behind You Know Yourself (11-5) at Wetherby 2m 4f hcp chs 0-105 (4) gs in Nov.
Not Talking (IRE) 6-4fav (10-5) Tracked leaders on inside, led after 2 out, ridden and headed approaching last, kept on same pace flat, 2nd of 7, 2l behind The Hudnalls (11-12) at Hereford 3m 2f nov hcp hdl 0-95 (5) sft.
Papa Drew (IRE) 6-1 (10-0) Held up in rear, mistake 1st and 2nd, not always fluent after, well beaten from 12th, 5th of 8, 37l behind Storm Prospect (11-0) at Musselburgh 2m 4f nov hcp chs 0-105 (4) gd in Nov.
