held up in rear, pushed along 3 out, headway next, effort approaching last, stayed on well towards finish
held up towards rear, headway 4 out, left in lead 2 out, blundered last, soon headed, weakened flat
led, 3 lengths in lead when blundered unseated rider 2 out
in touch, ridden 3 out, soon weakened
tracked leader, ridden 7th, gradually weakened
chased leaders, pushed along 3 out, weakened next
tracked leaders, effort 2 out, soon ridden and weakened flat
behind ,tailed off and pulled up before 2 out
in touch, pushed along after 4 out, effort 2 out, weakened last
chased leaders to halfway
in touch, pushed along 3 out, headway 2 out, challenged last, no extra flat
held up in rear, headway 2 out, ridden and stayed on approaching last, every chance when hampered flat, switched left and kept on
mid-division, headway 3 out, effort after next, led flat, carried right by loose horse, kept on
Ipledgeallegiance overcame a long absence when making a winning return at Catterick last month and while still well treated may bounce today so preference is for Diamond Mick, who gets the vote ahead of Culcabock. The last mentioned is a consistent sort from the stable of Peter Monteith but is paying for that consistency at the hands of the handicapper who has seen fit to raise the gelding 3lbs for his latest defeat at Newcastle. Stablemate Shares has shown enough to suggest that he can win a race of this nature and has to be respected but would probably want a softer surface. Similar comments apply to Merryvale Man so a bigger threat may come from Dark Ben, who is unexposed over hurdles and has been given a break since an encouraging debut in a handicap behind Rising Generation over course and distance in November. The five-year-old is closely matched with Totally Scottish on running that day and Keith Reveley's gelding is another worthy of a mention. However, Diamond Mick comes into this on the back of a fine effort when beating subsequent Doncaster winner Karelian and on that form he looks to be well treated.
