Verdict

River Dragon has a penalty for his recent win in testing conditions at Newcastle. He had both Riptide and DR FINLEY well behind on that occasion but the latter is fancied to reverse running on his preferred faster ground. Lydia Pearce's charge had earlier gone close when runner-up over C&D with no less than five of today's rivals well beaten and he looks to have leading claims here. Riptide will also appreciate today's going and should be thereabouts, while Blackmore was in good form early in the season and will have come on for his recent comeback run.

Formwatch

Blackmore 10-1 (9-11) Held up towards rear, in rear and pushed along over 4f out, ridden over 2f out, never dangerous, 9th of 10, 11l behind Hunting Tower (9-6) at Newcastle 2m hcp 0-75 (5) gd in Sep.

Mr Crystal (FR) 14-1 (9-9) Held up mid-division, pushed along over 6f out, soon outpaced, stayed on from over 1f out, no impression, 4th of 9, 24l behind The Bells O Peover (9-11) at Pontefract 1m 4f app hcp 0-75 (5) gf in Sep.

Riptide 7-1 (9-12) Held up towards rear, weakened over 5f out, 9th of 13, 35l behind River Dragon (9-2) at Newcastle 2m hcp 0-75 (5) sft.

Dr Finley (IRE) 9-1 (9-12) Soon tracked leaders, weakened over 4f out, 7th of 13, 11l behind River Dragon (9-2) at Newcastle 2m hcp 0-75 (5) sft.

Descaro (USA) 13-2 (9-10) Held up towards rear, ridden over 3f out, well beaten over 1f out, 11th of 12, 17l behind May Contain Nuts (8-12) at Pontefract 2m 1f hcp 0-75 (5) gf in Sep.

Petella 16-1 (9-1) Mid-division, lost place over 6f out, soon beaten, 9th of 12, 23l behind Orsippus (8-10) at York 2m 2f hcp (4) gd.

River Dragon (IRE) 9-1 (9-2) Tracked leader, led after 2f, made rest, clear over 2f out, stayed on strongly, won at Newcastle 2m hcp 0-75 (5) sft beating Puy D'Arnac (9-6) by 1 3/4l, 13 ran.

Spiders Star 16-1 (9-1) Slowly into stride, in rear, some late headway, never nearer, 7th of 12, 7l behind May Contain Nuts (8-12) at Pontefract 2m 1f hcp 0-75 (5) gf in Sep.

Dan Buoy (FR) 25-1 (9-0) Led, soon clear, headed over 3f out, soon ridden, weakened over 2f out, 4th of 5, 35l behind Colour Vision (8-5) at Pontefract 2m 2f cond Stakes (3) gf.

Inside Knowledge (USA) 4-1 (9-8) Held up towards rear, headway over 4f out, weakened 2f out, 6th of 8, 21l behind Kadouchski (8-9) at Kempton 2m hcp 0-65 (6) pol in Mar.

Spruzzo 40-1 (9-3) Tracked leader, chased winner over 3f out, ridden over 2f out, weakened over 1f out, 3rd of 5, 25l behind Colour Vision (8-5) at Pontefract 2m 2f cond Stakes (3) gf.

Divinatore 18-1 (8-12) Mid-division, ridden and weakened 3f out, 7th of 9, 8l behind Dart (9-8) at Wolverhampton 2m hcp 0-70 (5) pol in Nov.