chased leader, not fluent 12th, led after 16th, stayed on, ridden out
chased leaders, not fluent 11th, fell 15th
chased leaders, pushed along 14th, badly hampered 15th and lost plenty of ground, went remote 3rd from 4 out
led, not fluent 13th, headed after 16th, weakened 4 out
chased leaders on outside, last and behind 5th, not fluent 8th, left 3rd 15th, went 2nd after next, no impression on winner
HASTRUBAL got his act together on only his third start over fences when scoring easily at Sedgefield. There looks more to come from him and Sandy Thomson’s charge can defy a hike in the weights. Nortonthorpelegend is more exposed but held on well to win at Ayr back in October while Diggin Deep scored at the same course last year but was well beaten at Haydock in December. Gangster and Achill Road Boy continue to struggle though both drop down a grade for this.
Gangster (FR) 14-1 (11-3) Raced wide, held up, weakened 4 out, last of 9, dist behind Silva Eclipse (11-1) at Haydock 3m hcp (3) hvy in Jan.
Hastrubal (FR) 6-1 (11-10) Held up in last pair, headway 12th, chasing leaders when pecked next, led 4 out, clear before next, very easily, won at Sedgefield 3m 2f hcp (4) sft in Jan beating Dontdelay (10-7) by 22l, 7 ran.
Diggin Deep (IRE) 16-1 (11-9) Held up in rear, not fluent 3rd, not much room 6th, pushed along to close before 4 out, no impression 2 out, 5th of 7, 13 1/4l behind Cobolobo (12-1) at Haydock 3m 2f hcp (4) sft in Dec.
Nortonthorpelegend (IRE) 9-2jfav (11-8) Tracked leaders, blundered 7th, went 2nd 12th, ridden to lead last, ran on, won at Ayr 3m hcp (4) sft in Oct beating Ask Cory (11-7) by 3/4l, 9 ran.
Achill Road Boy (IRE) 16-1 (10-8) Chased leaders, effort after 4 out, weakened next, 6th of 9, dist behind Hugo 'n Taz (10-10) at Market Rasen 3m 4f hcp (3) sft in Dec.
