held up towards rear, headway 7th, prominent when blundered badly and unseated rider 13th
held up, shaken up after 8th, not fluent 10th and slowly lost touch
led 1st to 3rd, led again 7th, mistake 11th (water), headed 13th, led again after 3 out, headed last, stayed on towards finish
in touch, lost several places when not fluent 6th, not fluent 9th, progress and 3rd when hit 3 out, weakened approaching 2 out
led to 1st, led 3rd to 7th, not fluent 12th, weakened after 3 out
held up, headway approaching 3 out, went 3rd approaching 2 out, weakened flat
held up towards rear, headway approaching 13th, led last, ridden and edge left flat, driven out
prominent, lost place after 13th, no danger after
prominent, led 13th, headed after 3 out, beaten before 2 out, 4th when mistake last
Newton Bridge still looks well-treated, and so earns the vote over Scribano Eile, Caislean Na Deirge and In Extra Time. Newton Bridge did well to score on his last trip across at Perth, as he had to overcome a bad mistake at the third flight to eventually get back into the contest and prevail. That was off a 21lb higher mark than when successful over fences at Killarney in July, and although back over the bigger obstacles now, he can line up off 89, which gives him a great chance of following up. Scribano Eile looked one to follow after winning his first two races, but things have not gone right since, and he has been off since April. The dam is related to a former Michael Dickinson star Bregawn, and he has the time and scope to make up into a decent chaser himself. He may be best watched today though. Ex-Irish Caislean Na Deirge has yet to win over fences, and was well beaten when falling at Sedgefield last time, but he has run one or two promising races for Evan Williams and will be placed to good effect in time. In Extra Time has gone off the boil since scoring at Stratford in July, and all in all we prefer the claims of Newton Bridge.
Scribano Eile (IRE) 3-1fav (11-1) Raced keenly, tracked leaders, mistake 8th, ridden 4 out, soon weakened and pulled up 2 out in race won by Mumbles Head (11-5) at Perth 3m nov hcp hdl 0-115 (3) sft in Apr, 13 ran.
Guerabad (FR) 16-1 (10-7) Soon behind, ridden after 8th, tailed off, 7th of 9, well behind Free Gift (11-5) at Fontwell 2m 4f hcp chs 0-120 (3) gf.
Own Line 16-1 (11-5) In touch, ridden and outpaced 3 out, kept on under pressure approaching last, 5th of 13, 9l behind Jim Edwards (10-8) at Market Rasen 2m 6f hcp chs 0-110 (4) gd in Sept.
Pongo's Nephew 6-1 (10-11) Tracked leaders, ridden, weakened from 3 out, 7th of 13, 23l behind Knocker Jock (10-13) at Stratford 2m 1f nov hcp chs 0-105 (4) gd in Aug.
Physical Force 14-1 (11-8) Mid-division, ridden and outpaced 4 out, kept on under pressure from next, no impression, 5th of 15, 14l behind Rowdy Yeats (11-12) at Market Rasen 2m 2f hcp chs 0-100 (4) gd in Sept.
In Extra Time (IRE) 14-1 (10-10) Held up, outpaced 10th, never dangerous, 8th of 13, 42l behind Jim Edwards (10-8) at Market Rasen 2m 6f hcp chs 0-110 (4) gd in Sept.
Newton Bridge (IRE) 4-1 (11-3) Tracked leaders, mistake and lost place 3rd, effort 6th, ridden 3 out, headway to chase leaders 2 out, kept on to lead before last, driven out, won at Perth 2m 4f nov hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gf in Sept beating Beau Saddler (11-3) by 3 1/2l, 10 r.
Caislean Na Deirge (IRE) 4-1fav (11-5) Mid-division, struggling 5 out, behind when fell 5 out in race won by Chukchi Country (11-0) at Sedgefield 2m 4f hcp chs 0-105 (4) frm in Aug, 9 ran.
Ballyboe Boy (IRE) 8-1 (10-4) Chased leaders, lost pace halfway, soon behind, 6th of 14, 45l behind Willie The Fish (10-6) at Hexham 3m hcp hdl 0-100 (4) gd.
Black And Tan (IRE) 16-1 (11-7) Chased leader after 3rd, weakening when hit 3 out, 9th of 13, 43l behind Scaramouche (11-0) at Sandown 2m 4f nov hcp hdl 0-110 (4) hvy in Feb.
