towards rear of mid-division, headway near side of group over 1f out, kept on same pace inside final furlong
held up towards rear, headway far side of group 2f out, ridden chasing leaders over 1f out, kept on same pace in 3rd inside final furlong
chased leaders, ridden and weakened over 1f out
mid-division, pushed along halfway, ridden 2f out, headway over 1f out, kept on same pace inside final furlong
held up and behind, good headway near side of group over 2f out, ridden to lead approaching final furlong, ran on
chased leaders, ridden and every chance over 1f out, weakened inside final furlong
slowly into stride and hampered start, soon mid-division, headway near side of group over 2f out, every chance over 1f out, kept on in 2nd, not pace of winner
towards rear, headway far side of group over 2f out, kept on same pace inside final furlong
held up towards rear, some headway but no chance when not clear run inside final furlong
chased leader, led over 2f out until over 1f out, weakened inside final furlong
went right start, led until over 2f out, remained prominent, every chance over 1f out, 4th and one pace inside final furlong
chased leaders, pushed along over 2f out, weakened over 1f out
raced keenly, chased leaders, pushed along over 2f out, weakened 2f out
NonRunner
INSURPLUS failed to threaten the winner when runner-up over 6f here on his reappearance but is only 2lb higher than when scoring over track and trip at this time last year and Jim Goldie’s charge gets the vote. Gun Case has won here more recently but will need to improve on his latest efforts to figure while Kingofmerrows finished a lot closer over track and trip last time and finished in front of Rebel State, Collingham Park and Grinty in the process. The unreliable Ninepin Bowler was narrowly beaten here in between modest efforts and Irish raider Waitaki has won just the once in 21 outings in handicaps.
Insurplus (IRE) 9-2 (9-8) Held up towards rear, headway over 1f out, ridden inside final furlong, kept on, 2nd of 8, 6l behind Young John (10-2) at Newcastle 6f hcp (5) pol in Nov.
Gun Case 20-1 (9-8) Held up and behind, headway final furlong, never dangerous, 9th of 12, 4 1/2l behind Rockesbury (8-11) at Wolverhampton 7f hcp (6) pol in Nov.
Ubla (IRE) 12-1 (10-0) Led 3f, chased leader until inside final 2f, chased leaders, weakened well inside final furlong, 6th of 12, 3 1/4l behind Cuttin' Edge (9-12) at Lingfield 1m hcp (6) pol in Nov.
Kingofmerrows (IRE) 16-1 (9-7) Tracked leaders, driven over 2f out, ridden and kept on under pressure inside final furlong, held when not much room towards finish, 7th of 14, 2 1/4l behind Smugglers Creek (9-6) at Newcastle 7f hcp (6) pol in Nov.
Etikaal 66-1 (8-12) Awkwardly away, always behind, 13th of 15, 10l behind Bezos (9-0) at Pontefract 1m hcp (5) gs in Oct.
Grinty (IRE) 5-1 (9-4) Tracked winner, ridden and every chance over 1f out until inside final furlong, held when not much room and checked towards finish, 10th of 14, 4l behind Smugglers Creek (9-6) at Newcastle 7f hcp (6) pol in Nov.
Somewhere Secret 25-1 (9-8) In rear, pushed along over 1f out, ridden and ran on final furlong, nearest finish, 5th of 12, 5 1/2l behind Harry George (9-3) at Newcastle 1m hcp (6) pol in Nov.
Rebel State (IRE) 11-1 (9-4) Mid-division, driven over 2f out, switched left towards far side and kept on from over 1f out, not reach leaders, 8th of 14, 2 3/4l behind Smugglers Creek (9-6) at Newcastle 7f hcp (6) pol in Nov.
Angel's Acclaim (IRE) 4-1fav (9-6) Awkwardly away, always behind, outpaced final 2f, 13th of 14, 7 1/2l behind Smugglers Creek (9-6) at Newcastle 7f hcp (6) pol in Nov.
Collingham Park (IRE) 12-1 (9-6) Tracked leaders, ridden inside final furlong, kept on same pace, no impression final furlong, 9th of 14, 3 1/2l behind Smugglers Creek (9-6) at Newcastle 7f hcp (6) pol in Nov.
Mr Strutter (IRE) 6-1 (9-3) Pushed along towards rear, wide into straight halfway, soon ridden, kept on final furlong, 5th of 13, 10 3/4l behind Black Salt (9-6) at Southwell 6f hcp (6) pol in Nov.
Ninepin Bowler 3-1 (9-8) Led, ridden and headed 2f out, weakened final furlong, 8th of 14, 6 1/4l behind Chosen World (9-5) at Newcastle 7f hcp (6) pol in Nov.
Whitkirk 16-1 (9-8) In touch, ridden 2f out, kept on same pace, 6th of 13, 7 1/2l behind Gilded Heaven (9-7) at Newcastle 1m hcp (6) pol in Nov.
Waitaki (IRE) 6-1 (9-4) Dwelt, raced in 12th early, last from halfway, headway and effort on inner straight, kept on without threatening final furlong, 5th of 13, 2 1/4l behind Confrontational (9-8) at Dundalk 7f hcp pol in Nov.
