chased leaders, mistake 2nd, lost place 5th, headway under pressure after 4 out, soon outpaced
towards rear, fell 4th
towards rear, headway 10th, challenging when mistake 3 out, blundered next, soon no chance
mistakes, chased leaders, blundered and lost place 10th, headway 3 out, blundered next, soon beaten
tracked leader, led 6th, clear approaching last, comfortably
in touch, pushed along 10th, outpaced after 4 out
held up in rear, hampered and unseated rider after 4th
led to 6th, soon behind, tailed off and pulled up before 4 out
in touch to 9th, behind from next
Alfy Rich,Assumetheposition and Wilful Lord look the three to concentrate on in this trappy opener and the vote is given to Alfy Rich. The selection won well last time out when beating Mr Laggan in facile fashion and although he has a penalty for that win he is still well handicapped on his best form of a couple of seasons ago and under conditions that suit he is taken to win again. Assumetheposition rates the main danger on his best form and with the stable conditional taking off a handy 10 pounds he will not be far away. Wilful Lord is another worthy of respect as he looks to be on a handy mark but he may just need the run after a 201 day absence and for that reason he is opposed. Of the remainder Risky Way is from a yard in form and could go well at a price but he is not proven over the trip and for the winner we return to Alfy Rich.
Alfy Rich 11-4jt-fav (10-10) Tracked leaders, led 10th, ridden approaching last, ran on strongly, won at Hexham 2m 4f hcp chs 0-110 (E) gf in Oct beating Mr Laggan (9-7) by 8l, 6 ran.
Assumetheposition (FR) 7-2 (11-0) Slowly away, always behind, 5th of 6, well behind Parisienne Gale (11-4) at Carlisle 2m nov hcp chs 0-105 (E) hvy in Oct.
The Miner 9-1 (10-7) Tracked leaders, effort 3 out, one pace next, 3rd of 14, 27l behind King of Confusion (10-6) at Kelso 2m 6f cnd nov hdl (E) gs in Oct.
Risky Way 11-4jt-fav (10-8) Made most until blundered and unseated rider at the 7th in race won by Alfy Rich (10-10) at Hexham 2m 4f hcp chs 0-110 (E) gf in Oct, 6 ran.
Devondale (IRE) 20-1 (10-4) Always behind, 7th of 11, well behind Now Then Sid (10-3) at Sedgefield 2m 5f hcp chs 0-110 (E) gf in Sept.
Moss Bawn (IRE) 15-2 (11-0) Tracked leaders, blundered 11th, ridden and weakened approaching 3 out, behind when pulled up at the last in race won by Tee-Jay (11-0) at Hexham 3m 1f chs 0-90 (F) gf in Oct, 11 ran.
Wilful Lord (IRE) 3-1fav (10-8) Behind, close up and reminders after 7th, blundered and lost place 5 out, no danger after, 6th of 9, 6l behind Jballingall (10-7) at Carlisle 2m 4f nov hcp chs 0-100 (E) hvy in Apr.
Jumbo's Dream 9-1 (9-9) Chased leaders, lost place halfway, tailed off from 11th, 7th of 9, 46l behind Midlem Melody (10-8) at Carlisle 2m 4f hcp chs 0-105 (E) gs in Mar.
