chased leaders, ridden to chase leader over 4f out until over 2f out
hung right throughout, with leaders, led after 3f, headed over 8f out, weakened over 3f out, soon eased
held up in rear, keen, headway on bit over 3f out, chased leader over 2f out, led approaching final furlong, pushed clear
held up in rear, ridden and headway over 3f out, one pace final 2f
held up mid-division, ridden and headway over 3f out, weakened over 1f out
held up, behind from 4f out
led 3f, chased leaders after, ridden 6f out, weakened over 2f out
always in rear, behind from 5f out
held up, headway on outside 6f out, soon chased leaders, ridden and hung right over 3f out, weakened over 2f out
chased leaders 10f
with leaders, led over 8f out, ridden 3f out, headed approaching final furlong, no extra
held up in rear, ridden and headway over 2f out, kept on to take 3rd over 1f out
mid-division, ridden over 5f out, headway over 3f out, no impression final 2f
prominent, ridden 6f out, weakened and behind from over 4f out
Red River Rebel deserves to get his head back in front and can do so at the expense of Bulberry Hill, Ice And Fire and High Frequency. Red River Rebel has had 59 career starts, but only two of them have been here at Southwell, so he did well to finish as close as he did to Bulberry Hill when they met three weeks ago. There was less than two-lengths between them at the finish, and on 8lb better terms, surely John Norton's charge can turn the tables. Ice And Fire was successful at Wolverhampton in August and was then beaten on a return visit off a 6lb higher mark. A two-month break means that he lines up a fresh horse, but he does seem to prefer the Polytrack to a Fibresand surface. High Frequency generally goes well round here, although he has been victorious on just the one visit, and lines after two spins over timber at Kelso. He can be added to the list of potential winners, but the weights favour Red River Rebel who therefore gets the vote.
Bulberry Hill 5-1jt-fav (8-9) Held up, led over 3f out, driven and kept on gamely final furlong, won at Southwell 2m banded stk (7) fbs in Oct beating Red River Rebel (8-12) by 2l, 13 ran.
Channel Crossing 10-1 (9-3) Led 3f, tracked leader afterwards, led again briefly over 2f out, soon headed and weakened, eased inside final furlong, 8th of 12, 8l behind Ocean Rock (9-10) at Kempton 1m 4f banded stk (7) pol in Oct.
Ice And Fire 7-1 (8-13) Behind, headway 4f out, weakened 3f out, 9th of 13, 14l behind Swords (9-8) at W'hampton 2m 1f hcp 0-75 (6) pol in Aug.
Bongoali 25-1 (8-12) Mid-division, pushed along over 6f out, effort over 3f, no impression, 11th of 13, 32l behind Bulberry Hill (8-9) at Southwell 2m banded stk (7) fbs in Oct.
High Frequency (IRE) 33-1 (8-6) Mid-division, pushed along over 5f out, headway over 2f out, stayed on same pace final furlong, 4th of 15, 3 1/2l behind Let It Be (9-10) at Catterick 2m hcp 0-65 (6) gf in Sept.
Makarim (IRE) 15-2 (8-12) Towards rear, pushed along over 6f out, some late headway, never near to challenge, 5th of 13, 14l behind Bulberry Hill (8-9) at Southwell 2m banded stk (7) fbs in Oct.
Red River Rebel 14-1 (8-12) Prominent, ridden over 3f out, driven and stayed on final furlong, 2nd of 13, 2l behind Bulberry Hill (8-9) at Southwell 2m banded stk (7) fbs in Oct.
Silver Mont (IRE) 8-1 (9-3) Behind, never on terms, 10th of 14, 11l behind Milk And Sultana (9-2) at Kempton 1m 2f banded stk (7) pol in Oct.
