led, clear after 7th, headed 2 out, soon ridden and lost 2nd, plugged on same pace in 3rd
took keen hold tracking leaders, left 2nd at 4th, pushed along before lost 2nd 3 out, weakened before next, pulled up before last
held up towards rear, steady headway approaching 8th, travelling well in 3rd before 2 out, went 2nd 2 out, led before last, kept on strongly flat, driven right out
took keen hold tracking leaders, went 2nd before 3rd, blundered and unseated rider next
held up towards rear, headway when left 3rd and slightly hampered 4th, went 2nd 3 out, led 2 out, ridden and headed before last, kept on same pace flat and no chance with winner
held up in rear, headway approaching 6th, chased leaders next, weakened 8th, tailed off
in touch, headway to chase leaders 7th, weakening when mistake 3 out, tailed off
held up towards rear, headway approaching 8th, chased leaders 3 out, weakened before next, tailed off
chased leader until before 3rd where mistake and soon lost place, hampered 4th, behind and struggling before 6th, tailed off
Hartforth's run in the first division should be a pointer to the chances of Amore Mio, who beat him more than four lengths at Newcastle. The top weight is one for the short-list from an in-form yard. I'll Be Frank won a lower grade race at Hexham in October while Big Sound won at the Northumbrian track in June, but was well beaten at Sedgefield last month. GULF PUNCH has two ways of running but stays well and is only 2lb higher than his last winning mark. He gets a tentative vote in an uninspiring contest.
Amore Mio (GER) 4-1fav (11-0) Tracked leader, led before 7th, headed 2 out, ridden before last, led run-in, kept on well, won at Ayr 3m hcp hdl 0-110 (4) sft in Nov beating Hartforth (9-12) by 4 1/2l, 9 ran.
Big Sound 8-1 (10-11) Mid-division, ridden 3 out, soon no impression, 5th of 11, 39l behind Waltz Darling (11-5) at Sedgefield 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-120 (4) gs in Nov.
Gulf Punch 14-1 (9-7) Tracked leaders, weakened well before 3 out, tailed off, last of 7, well behind Dark Spirit (9-11) at Ludlow 3m (3) gd in Oct.
I'll Be Frank 9-2fav (11-1) Tracked leaders, not fluent 2nd, ridden after 2 out, led before last, driven out, won at Hexham 3m hcp hdl 0-100 (5) gd in Oct beating Saddlers Mot (11-1) by 3/4l, 8 ran.
Tiny Dancer (IRE) 12-1 (11-12) Tracked leaders, mistake 2 out, soon outpaced, 5th of 10, 12l behind Civil Unrest (10-9) at Kelso 2m 2f nov hcp hdl 0-100 (5) gs in Nov.
Yukon Delta (IRE) 66-1 (10-13) Held up in rear, headway before 5 out, weakened after 4 out, 4th of 6, well behind Willoughby Hedge (10-13) at Wetherby 3m 1f nh nov hdl (4) gs in May.
Danebrook Lad (IRE) 100-1 (10-12) Held up towards rear, reminders before 4 out, never dangerous, 5th of 9, 23l behind Kilbree Chief (10-5) at Hexham 2m 4f nh nov hdl (4) sft in Nov.
See The Legend 6-1fav (9-10) Tracked leaders, went 2nd at 6th, led 7th, mistake 2 out, pressed last, kept on and headed towards finish, 2nd of 14, nk behind Daasij (11-6) at Ayr 3m hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gs in Mar.
Mini The Minx (IRE) 25-1 (10-12) Disputed lead to 5th, soon pushed along, lost place next, weakened after 4 out, tailed off, finished 13th placed 12th, 12th of 14, 35l behind Mrs Eff (11-2) at Newcastle 3m nov hcp hdl 0-95 (5) gs in Apr.
