mid-division, closed on outside 8th, lost place 4 out, headway after next, challenged 2 out, shaken up before last, every chance flat, out-battled towards finish
not fluent in rear, soon behind
held up towards rear, mistake and rider lost iron briefly 4th, well beaten 2 out
prominent, not fluent 6th, ridden 2 out, weakened before last
took keen hold, led, clear 3rd until after 6th, headed 4 out, weakened before last
mid-division, headway 4 out, switched right before 2 out, led approaching last, edged left, ridden out
prominent, led 4 out, headed before last, no extra towards finish
mid-division, headway 3 out, no impression before last
held up towards rear, headway 2 out, not clear run before last, edged left, went 3rd flat, kept on
Second twice recently at Kelso, Castletown is taking a big drop in distance here. He is now 0-13 over fences and doesn’t usually find much off the bridle. We’ll take a chance on Welsh raider NEWQUAY CARDS, whose yard is in good form. The grey was only placed once over hurdles but may do better over fences and has no weight to speak of. Elysian Prince has travelled down from Scotland after a fair run over hurdles at Musselburgh on Monday and Champion Chase could also be thereabouts dropping back to the minimum.
Castletown (FR) 7-1 (11-0) With leader, led 2nd, clear when hit 11th, joined after 5 out, headed before last, no impression with winner flat, 2nd of 3, 10l behind Shades Of Midnight (11-0) at Kelso 2m 6f (3) gd in Dec.
Mrs Vonn (IRE) 40-1 (11-9) Chased leaders, weakened 3 out, 7th of 13, 36 3/4l behind Let's Get At It (11-11) at Market Rasen 2m 5f hcp (5) sft in Dec.
Elysian Prince 40-1 (11-1) Prominent, ridden 2 out, kept on same pace, 5th of 13, 2 1/4l behind Wot A Shot (11-3) at Musselburgh 2m hcp (4) gd in Jan.
Champion Chase (FR) 8-1 (11-6) Traced leader, effort after 3 out, weakened before last, 5th of 9, 14 1/2l behind Shintori (10-9) at Plumpton 2m 4f hcp (5) sft in Dec.
Ringaringarosie (IRE) 9-1 (11-5) Led, clear to before 3 out, headed after next, soon no chance with easy winner, lost 2nd after last, no extra, 3rd of 8, 17 1/2l behind Rossmore's Pride (11-12) at Sedgefield 2m hcp (5) sft in Dec.
Trooblue 9-2 (10-13) Tracked leaders, outpaced in 4th 4 out, lost place after next, ridden and weakened after 2 out, 5th of 8, 12 3/4l behind Lucarno Dancer (10-4) at Catterick 2m hcp (4) gs in Dec.
Newquay Cards (IRE) 11-4 (10-8) Tracked leader, not fluent 5th, lost 2nd when not fluent 2 out, soon weakened, 7th of 9, 25 1/2l behind Stop Talking (11-10) at Southwell 2m hcp (5) gd in Nov.
Court Painter (IRE) 50-1 (10-0) Behind, struggling 12th, tailed off when pulled up 3 out, at Hexham 2m 4f hcp (4) hvy in Dec.
Scorpo (IRE) 100-1 (10-0) Always in rear, lot touch 9th, pulled up before 11th, at Hexham 2m 4f hcp (4) hvy in Dec.
