held up behind in touch, struggling 8th, tailed off when pulled up before 4 out
led to 4th, tracked winner, lost place 8th, outpaced 4 out, ridden and rallied approaching 2 out, kept on same pace flat
held up in touch, tracked leaders 5th, effort 3 out, every chance when mistake last, ridden and stayed on to press winner towards finish, just failed
held up in touch, outpaced 5 out, ridden 3 out, stayed on well flat, closed on leaders towards finish, just failed for 3rd
soon tracked leaders on outside, challenged 8th, led after 4 out, soon ridden, headed 2 out, kept on and every chance until no extra towards finish, just held on for 3rd
tracked leaders on inside, challenged 8th, outpaced approaching 4 out, no impression from 2 out
pressed leader, led after 4th, headed after 4 out, rallied to regain lead 2 out, ridden and kept on under pressure flat, just held on
It's hard to be confident about any of these with Transact, a winner over hurdles here, racing from 5lb out of the handicap. Hole In One was third at Musselburgh last time but Lucinda Russell also runs the returning Quacity. Ouest Eclair should be capable of improving on his run at Sedgefield but may need more time and Saddle Pack is faltered by his form figures. Dancing Art finished just ahead of TWICE LUCKY at Hexham last month but the latter made much of the running that day and was eased on weakening on the run to the last. With that experience to fall back on, Sue Smith's charge gets the vote today.
Ouest Eclair (FR) 8-1 (11-1) Always in rear, ridden after 9th, tailed off, 5th of 6, well behind Trustan Times (11-1) at Sedgefield 2m 4f beg chs (5) gd in Nov.
Quacity (FR) 20-1 (10-3) In rear, ridden after 6th, never on terms, 11th of 14, 27l behind Knight Valliant (9-11) at Ayr 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-125 (3) gd in Apr.
Dancing Art (IRE) 25-1 (11-12) Held up mid-division, headway to go 4th 3 out, one pace, 5th of 14, 23l behind Tanzanite Bay (11-7) at Hexham 2m 4f nov hcp chs 0-100 (5) sft in Nov.
Saddle Pack (IRE) 100-1 (10-7) Held up well in rear, struggling from 4th, tailed off next, went poor 3rd flat, 3rd of 5, 37l behind Frascati Park (11-5) at Carlisle 2m nov chs (3) sft in Nov.
Hole In One (IRE) 9-2 (10-8) Held up, mistake and hampered 10th, headway next, left 2nd 12th until 4 out, weakened flat, 3rd of 9, 10l behind Baaher (11-5) at Musselburgh 2m 4f nov hcp chs 0-105 (4) gd in Nov.
Twice Lucky 8-1 (10-10) Led, ridden and headed before last, soon weakened, 6th of 14, 29l behind Tanzanite Bay (11-7) at Hexham 2m 4f nov hcp chs 0-100 (5) sft in Nov.
Transact (IRE) 6-1 (10-10) Mid-division, pushed along after 7th, tailed off before 4 out, pulled up before 2 out, in a race won by On Gossamer Wings (10-13) at Catterick 2m 3f hcp chs 0-95 (5) gd in Nov, 11 ran.
