mid-division, lost place 4 out, soon weakened
always towards rear
raced keenly in mid-division, reminder 7th, outpaced when mistake 4 out, soon weakened
chased leaders, outpaced 4 out, no impression from next
mid-division, outpaced approaching 3 out, soon weakened
mid-division, headway to challenge 4 out, led next, soon ridden, kept on until headed and no extra flat
mid-division, weakened 4 out, tailed off
behind, headway 4 out, soon outpaced, no impression from next
tracked leaders, driven and outpaced approaching 3 out, ridden next, rallied last, stayed on under pressure to lead flat
close up on outside, lost place approaching 4 out, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out
led, headed when hit 3 out, soon ridden, kept on and every chance until mistake last, no extra flat
towards rear, ridden 4 out, soon weakened, behind when pulled up before 2 out
tracked leader, outpaced 4 out, rallied and every chance 2 out, ridden and kept on until no extra flat
A moderate affair where topweight DUKE OF CHESTERWOOD may be good enough to win again, while Thatlldoforme may provide the biggest threat. The latter was a soft ground Sedgefield scorer a year ago to the day and is now 7lbs higher. He wasn't far behind an improving Lie Forrit over hurdles next time and switched back to fences he ran with credit over shorter than this at Carlisle when last seen in March. This trip might bring about some improvement and he is much respected. Even so, preference is for Duke Of Chesterwood. The Missed Flight gelding stayed on really well to land a similar contest here over three miles last time and this drop back in trip should not inconvenience. The front two were a mile clear of the rest that day, so his hike in the weights is no surprise but he looks capable of reproducing it. Veronicas Boy is one-paced and proving very expensive to follow, while Bleu Pois would prefer better ground than this to produce his best. Bottomless ground suits Delightfully, and she has winning form to her name at this track, so she is likely to get competitive from today's mark. Something Silver would have some sort of claim if able to reproduce his chase form now switched back over the smaller obstacles, and a market check is advised, but Duke Of Chesterwood gets the vote.
Dukeofchesterwood 4-1fav (11-5) Held up towards rear, in touch approaching 10th, led 3 out, driven out, won at Newcastle 3m hcp hdl 0-90 (5) gs in Nov beating Mister Marker (11-9) by 1 1/4l, 12 ran.
Bleu Pois (IRE) 14-1 (11-5) Held up, weakened approaching last, 6th of 8, 42l behind King of Confusion (11-12) at Kelso 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) hvy in Nov.
Turtle Spirit 6-1 (10-8) Prominent, every chance 3 out, weakened between last two, 4th of 11, 13l behind Natural Action (10-4) at Aintree 2m 4f nov hcp hdl 0-120 (3) gs in Nov.
Delightfully (FR) 5-1 (11-7) Held up, headway approaching 8th, led approaching 3 out, headed approaching last, soon weakened, 3rd of 9, 6l behind Mister Marker (11-8) at Ayr 3m hcp hdl 0-105 (4) sft in Dec.
Thatlldoforme 5-2fav (11-12) Held up, headway 4 out, chased leaders next, one pace, 4th of 12, 8l behind Bamby (10-13) at Carlisle 2m hcp chs 0-100 (4) hvy in Mar.
Palos Conti (FR) 11-2 (11-12) Hampered by loose horse and unseated rider 2nd, in a race won by Sanpor (10-10) at Hereford 3m 1f nov hcp chs 0-95 (5) sft in Dec, 10 ran.
Veronicas Boy 8-1 (10-12) Prominent, ridden approaching 2 out, soon ridden and one pace, 4th of 13, 12l behind Kudu Country (11-5) at Catterick 2m 3yo nov hdl (4) gs in Dec.
Something Silver 4-1 (10-3) In rear, mistake 6th ridden and weakened approaching 4 out, 7th of 8, 33l behind Pamak D'airy (11-6) at Newcastle 2m 4f hcp chs 0-115 (4) gs in Nov.
Young Buddy 66-1 (10-5) Mid-division, driven and outpaced 3 out, never on terms, 6th of 9, 35l behind King Fontaine (11-5) at Market Rasen 2m 3f nov hdl (4) sft in Dec.
Kalibs Dream 66-1 (11-2) Held up and keen, headway approaching 7th, weakened after next, pulled up before 4 out, in a race won by Quay Meadow (11-0) at Wetherby 3m 1f hcp hdl (5) sft in Dec '08, 16 ran.
Mister Pete (IRE) 9-2 (10-11) Prominent, one pace from 2 out, 4th of 10, 34l behind Broughton Green (11-12) at Catterick 3m 1f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gs in Dec.
O'Sogood (IRE) 16-1 (10-13) Held up, headway approaching 7th, ridden and weakened quickly approaching 3 out, pulled up, in a race won by Lets Go Girls (11-0) at Wetherby 2m 4f nov hcp hdl 0-105 (4) hvy in Dec, 8 ran.
Safin (GER) 22-1 (10-8) Held up mid-division, chased leaders approaching 4 out, one pace from 2 out, 6th of 11, 40l behind Command Marshal (10-2) at Newcastle 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-100 (4) gd in Oct.
