raced wide prominent, ridden 4 out, stayed on to go 3rd towards finish
in touch, headway to go close up, 6th, led 2 out, ridden and ran on
led, hampered and headed 6th, tracked leader, ridden 3 out, weakened next
close up, lost place 6th, struggling 9th, pulled up before next
in touch, weakened 11th, behind when pulled up approaching 13th
prominent, led 6th, ridden and headed 2 out, faded run in and lost 2 places
towards rear, ridden and headway 3 out, stayed on to go 2nd towards finish
raced wide close up, weakened 5 out, behind when pulled up approaching 2 out
in rear, pushed along 12th, never on terms
The weaker of the two divisions. Veteran HIGH COUNSEL hinted at a revival at Warwick last month and is still capable of going close in a race like this so gets a narrow vote ahead of Space Safari, who was still travelling when falling at Hexham on his chasing bow having attracted market support. He is 5lb out of the handicap, however, while both Morozov Cocktail, who won at Wetherby on Boxing Day, and Newcastle runner-up Houston Texas have big weights to carry.
Morozov Cocktail (IRE) 6-4fav (11-2) Prominent, lost place 6th, midfield 10th, ridden after 15th, just in touch when blundered 2 out, no extra, 5th of 8, 16 1/4l behind Ballyrath (11-11) at Wetherby 3m hcp (4) sft in Jan.
Houston Texas (IRE) 9-2 (11-0) Prominent, led briefly 12th, led again 4 out, soon ridden, joined next, headed 2 out, kept on from last, 2nd of 4, 2l behind Bavington Bob (11-12) at Newcastle 2m 7f hcp (4) gd in Dec.
Seemingly So (IRE) 66-1 (11-11) Held up towards rear, awkward 6th, ridden before 3 out, well beaten 2 out, 6th of 14, dist behind Barrakhov (11-4) at Southwell 2m 4f hcp (5) gs in Jan.
Nakadam (FR) 28-1 (11-6) Led, joined before 5th, soon led again, fell 10th (usual 5 out), at Kelso 2m 7f hcp (5) gs in Jan.
Westend Theatre (IRE) 22-1 (10-3) Mid-division, slow 1st, slow and lost place 3rd, headway on outside before 13th, weakened after next, well beaten before 4 out, soon pulled up, at Cartmel 3m 1f hcp (4) gd in May.
High Counsel (IRE) 22-1 (10-0) Held up towards rear, some headway on outside 9th, no impression, well beaten from 14th, plugged on flat, 5th of 11, 17 1/4l behind Smuggler's Blues (11-7) at Warwick 3m 1f hcp (4) gs in Jan.
Magic Of Milan (IRE) 16-1 (10-6) Held up towards rear, behind 4 out, tailed off, 10th of 11, dist behind Manintheshadows (11-5) at Doncaster 3m hcp (5) gs in Jan.
Space Safari (FR) 8-1 (10-0) Chased leader, still going well when fell 3 out, at Hexham 3m hcp (5) hvy in Dec.
Black Opium 66-1 (10-0) Prominent, dropped to midfield 2nd, not fluent 3rd, towards rear 11th, in rear when fall 15th, at Wetherby 3m hcp (5) sft in Dec.
