towards rear, headway 8th, weakened 10th
held up in rear, headway 9th to track leaders, ridden and one pace from 3 out
in touch, outpaced 3 out, kept on one pace after next
tracked leaders, led 9th, headed last, kept on under pressure
chased leaders, one pace from 3 out
mid-division, ridden 10th, soon beaten
in touch, dropped rear halfway, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out
in touch, weakened 8th
towards rear, never dangerous
held up towards rear, headway 9th, pushed along 10th, ridden to lead last, stayed on
led to 9th, close 3rd when mistake 3 out, one pace after
Stoneriggs Merc ran as well as could have been expected on ground softer than ideal at Hexham at the beginning of the month and, back on faster ground today, he looks worth chancing to go one better today and gets the vote over Physical Force and Polar Gale. The last mentioned ran well when last seen when chasing home Sparkling Taff in a fast ground handicap at Catterick and John Wade's gelding has to be respected now that the ground has come right for him but he is arguably better over further and may be best watched. Reasonably Sure disappointed at Huntingdon last time but would have solid claims on earlier form and he cannot be discounted but he may be a shade high in the weights. Sands Rising has been well held in his most recent starts apart from when encountering fast ground here three starts ago and, on that showing, he has to be respected. Karo de Vindecy has been well held in recent starts and of more interest may be Physical Force. Marjorie Fife's gelding has been running creditably well of late and has solid claims off what seems a fair mark but preference is for Stoneriggs Merc.
Polar Gale (IRE) 5-4fav (10-13) Keen hold, tracked leaders, joined winner 13th, every chance 2 out, ran on, 2nd of 4, nk behind Sparkling Taff (11-7) at Catterick 3m 1f hcp chs 0-120 (3) gf in Dec.
Sands Rising 5-1 (10-11) Held up, effort approaching 4 out, soon outpaced, 6th of 11, 34l behind Sparkling Taff (11-6) at Carlisle 2m 4f hcp chs 0-115 (4) gs in Apr.
Reasonably Sure (IRE) 11-2 (10-8) Tracked leaders, hung left approaching 7th, chased leaders next, ridden 3 out, soon weakened, 7th of 8, 28l behind Toni Alcala (10-1) at Huntingdon 2m 4f hcp chs 0-115 (4) gd.
Stoneriggs Merc (IRE) 5-2 (11-0) Disputed lead, every chance 2 out, soon outpaced, 2nd of 5, 29l behind Flaming Heck (11-7) at Hexham 2m hcp chs 0-105 (4) hvy.
Physical Force 8-1 (10-9) Led, headed 10th, outpaced 4 out, no impression from next, 4th of 13, 19l behind Izzykeen (10-6) at Sedgefield 2m 4f hcp chs 0-110 (4) gf in Mar.
Karo de Vindecy (FR) 16-1 (10-13) Tracked leaders until unseated rider 2 out in race won by Alam (11-8) at Market Rasen 2m 4f cnd hcp chs 0-105 (4) gd in Apr, 13 ran.
Hardybuck (IRE) 50-1 (11-1) Always towards rear, lost touch from 9th, 5th of 13, well behind Ballynure (11-0) at Hexham 2m 4f hcp chs 0-95 (5) hvy in Apr.
Gunson Hight 7-1 (10-6) In touch, outpaced 4 out, no danger after, 7th of 11, 35l behind Justwhateverulike (11-0) at Hexham 2m cnd hcp chs (5) gf.
Pennybid (IRE) 50-1 (10-9) Blundered and unseated rider at the 2nd in race won by Justwhateverulike (10-10) at Sedgefield 2m hcp chs (5) gs in Apr, 16 ran.
Fred Bojangals (IRE) 25-1 (10-7) Not fluent, behind, never dangerous, 8th of 11, 47l behind Justwhateverulike (11-0) at Hexham 2m cnd hcp chs (5) gf.
Red Dawn (IRE) 8-1 (9-9) Mid-division, outpaced 4 out, soon no extra, 5th of 11, 28l behind Justwhateverulike (11-0) at Hexham 2m cnd hcp chs (5) gf.
Do L'Enfant d'Eau (FR) 33-1 (9-11) Held up, headway 9th, ridden 2 out, outpaced when hit last, 4th of 15, 16l behind Nirvana Swing (11-6) at Perth 2m 4f hcp chs 0-125 (3) gd in Apr.
