held up, ridden and headway to chase leaders 4 out, ridden and led next, kept on and headed, no extra close home
mid-division, ridden approaching 4 out, soon beaten
tracked leaders, blundered 10th and 11th, soon beaten
tracked leaders, ridden approaching 4 out, weakened from next
close up, lost place after 8th, tailed off from 10th
mid-division, ridden 4 out, chased leaders from 2 out, soon one pace
towards rear, lost touch from 10th
mid-division, effort approaching 9th, weakening when blundered 2 out
always close up, ridden 3 out, driven to lead close home
mid-division, smooth headway to lead approaching 4 out, headed next, blundered 2 out, no extra after
led, headed 4 out, ridden and gradually weakened
Nonrunner
A poor contest which we won't dwell on for long and RUN TO SPACE is a tentative selection to win it from Kilkenny All Star and Norminster. The selection was a soft ground Kelso winner in November and went well on a surface that might have been a bit too quick when tried over this trip last time. With slower ground conditions once more and not a lot of opposition he may well come good again. Kilkenny All Star needs to improve his jumping but he has shown enough promise in two starts so far to suggest that he can get heavily involved in such a mediocre event. Norminster is in fine fettle, having scored twice in his last three starts over trips shorter than this. He handles cut well but there are definite doubts over his ability to get home here, especially from this mark. King In Waiting should relish these conditions and was higher in the weights when previously tried over this trip, so now he has dropped a little he should have more to offer. Classic Harry stays well and handles cut but looks a little high in the weights, while Pilca has chances if reproducing his best, but generally finds a couple too good. Run To Space is a tentative pick.
Kilkenny All Star (IRE) 3-1 (10-7) Raced keenly, held up, ridden and effort approaching 3 out, outpaced when 6th, no impression, 4th of 9, 7l behind The Randy Bishop (10-5) at Market Rasen 2m 2f nov chs (4) sft in Dec.
Pilca (FR) 6-1 (11-9) Mid-division, ridden 4 out and weakened from 2 out, 4th of 10, 26l behind Watch My Back (11-2) at Musselburgh 2m hcp chs 0-120 (3) gd in Dec.
King In Waiting (IRE) 5-1 (11-5) Mid-division, ridden approaching 3 out, soon beaten, 5th of 12, 18l behind Kyber (10-5) at Musselburgh 2m hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gd in Dec.
Essifer (IRE) 25-1 (10-11) With leader, led 11th to next, blundered 14th, soon outpaced, weakened from 3 out, 4th of 13, 22l behind Bellaney Jewel (10-6) at Aintree 3m 1f hcp chs 0-125 (3) sft in Nov.
Classic Harry 7-2 (11-1) Chased leaders, reminders and lost place 7th, ridden 4 out, kept on under pressure from next, no impression, 5th of 9, 8l behind Moor Spirit (10-6) at Perth 2m 4f hcp chs 0-120 (3) gd in Jul.
I'm Your Man 7-1 (11-7) Held up, headway 4 out, stayed on from next, never troubled leaders, 5th of 15, 24l behind Player (11-9) at Catterick 2m 3f hcp chs 0-100 (4) gs in Dec.
Guerilla (AUS) 40-1 (10-11) Always behind, tailed off, 11th of 12, well behind Just Beware (9-10) at Fontwell 2m 2f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gd in Sept.
Norminster 5-2 (11-2) In touch, led last, stayed on, won at Carlisle 2m hcp chs 0-90 (5) hvy in Dec beating Gunadoir (11-4) by 2 1/2l, 10 ran.
Za Beau (IRE) 12-1 (10-12) Mid-division, headway 4 out, effort next, kept on same pace, no impression, 4th of 11, 14l behind Pinewood Legend (10-9) at Ayr 2m nov hcp hdl (4) sft.
Teviot Lass 28-1 (10-8) Mid-division, smooth headway to chase leaders approaching 2 out, soon ridden and one pace run-in, 3rd of 14, 4 1/2l behind Agglestone Rock (10-4) at Sedgefield 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-95 (5) sft in Dec.
Perly Spencer (IRE) 5-1 (11-9) Held up towards rear, no chance from 9th, blundered badly 4 out, 7th of 16, 37l behind Ours (11-12) at Southwell 2m hcp chs (5) gd in Oct.
Run To Space 15-8fav (11-12) Mid-division, ridden approaching 5 out, soon no impression, 3rd of 13, 16l behind Bow School (11-9) at Musselburgh 2m 4f nov hcp chs 0-105 (4) gf in Nov.
Trafalgar Man (IRE) 14-1 (11-7) Held up, mistake and unseated rider at the 2nd in race won by More Like It (11-2) at Catterick 2m hcp chs (4) gs in Dec, 9 ran.
