held up in touch, under pressure when blundered 15th, beaten 4 out, behind when pulled up before last
made most to 15th, with winner, kept on and every chance until ridden and no extra after last, lost 2nd near finish
in touch, went 3rd after 4th, hit 8th and 12th, under pressure when blundered 15th, ridden and weakened 2 out
in touch on outside, hit 12th, ridden before 4 out, chased leading pair after 2 out, stayed on well under pressure flat, went 2nd and closed on eased down winner near finish
pressed leader from 3rd, led 15th, ridden clear after last, stayed on, eased towards finish
chased leaders to 3rd, soon ridden and behind, tailed off when pulled up 10th
in rear, struggling 11th, lost touch and pulled up before 12th
Nonrunner
Patience is wearing thin with Avenging Ace after another failure at Wetherby on Boxing Day. He was pulled up when favourite for a race over a shorter trip here earlier in the month in which chasing debutant Fridaythorpe eventually finished third. Antonius Caesar is thoroughly exposed and hasn't raced since finishing second at Cartmel in July but Amroth Bay could be interesting as he was third over C&D at the start of the month and probably needed the outing. NOBLE WITNESS is now only a pound higher than when successful at Leicester in March. The longer trip is a slight concern but he should just about win this if he lasts home as Esme Rides A Gaine doesn't have much in the way of speed and has been below par so far this term.
Fridaythorpe (IRE) 16-1 (10-9) Mid-division, headway to chase leaders after 3 out, left in 3rd next, never able to challenge, 3rd of 9, 25l behind Classical Mist (10-7) at Catterick 2m 3f beg chs (4) gs.
Antonius Caesar (FR) 16-1 (11-5) Pressed leader, led 7th, ridden after last, headed over 1f out, kept on towards finish, 2nd of 10, 1 1/4l behind Inamalabalusaloon (10-13) at Cartmel 3m 2f hcp 0-100 (5) gs in Jul.
Amroth Bay 7-1 (10-13) Tracked leader, led 10th, mistake 5 out, ridden 3 out, headed last, faded, 3rd of 7, 10l behind Nodform Richard (11-10) at Catterick 3m 1f hcp chs 0-120 (4) gs.
Captain Nash (IRE) 11-1 (11-8) Mid-division, reminders 5th, soon lost place, pulled up before 13th, in a race won by Or de Grugy (11-5) at Musselburgh 3m hcp chs 0-105 (4) gd in Nov, 10 ran.
Noble Witness (IRE) 7-2fav (11-10) Tracked leaders on outside, challenged 4 out, led 3 out until 2 out, weakened flat, 3rd of 8, 9l behind Red Rouble (11-10) at Leicester 2m 7f hcp chs 0-105 (4) gd in Nov.
Esme Rides A Gaine 5-1 (11-7) Tracked leaders, mistake 3rd, pushed along before 4 out, ridden and weakened before 2 out, 4th of 5, well behind Samson Collonges (10-0) at Hexham 3m 1f hcp chs 0-95 (5) sft in Nov.
Borderhopper 7-2 (11-9) Held up, fell 10th, in a race won by Royaume Bleu (11-3) at Towcester 3m cnd hcp chs (0-95) (5) sft, 5 ran.
Avenging Ace (IRE) 5-4fav (10-13) In rear, unseated rider 6th, in a race won by Mannered (11-0) at Wetherby 3m 1f nov hcp chs 0-110 (4) hvy, 3 ran.
