prominent, lost place well before 3 out, headway approaching last, stayed on flat
made all, not fluent 2 out, soon ridden, edged right, stayed on under pressure flat
pecked 1st, mid-division, headway 5th, lost place when not fluent next, soon struggling
always in rear, tailed off
held up towards rear, took keen hold, headway approaching 3 out, soon ridden, no impression
took keen hold in touch, ridden, weakened approaching 3 out
held up, always towards rear, tailed off
pressed winner until approaching 3 out, regained 2nd before last, stayed on flat
mid-division, headway approaching 6th, challenging when hit 3 out, 3rd, beaten when fell last
prominent, jumped right 4th, challenging when stumbled 3 out, beaten when hampered last
always in rear, tailed off when pulled up before last
always behind, tailed off
in touch, not fluent 5th, ridden 3 out, stayed on same pace from 2 out
mid-division, headway approaching 3 out, hit 2 out, weakeneing when hampered last
An ordinary novice hurdle that can go to David Pipe's NORTHERN GEM ahead of Glebehall Bay and Silver Accord. The selection was a decent flat performer when trained by George Margarson having been rated as high as 85 in the past. Whilst not up to that form this season the gelding did manage to take a Newmarket handicap off 72 and with that effort coming on soft ground hopes are high that the horse can make a winning debut over hurdles with fitness assured. Glebehall Bay rates a danger in this competitive affair, Venetia Williams' charge having made his debut over hurdles at the start of November when taking a moderate seventh at Chepstow in similar conditions. The six-year-old is a relative latecomer to the jumps game and will have to have drawn some improvement from his first spin but that is entirely possible with the stables runners having shown improved form of late and that run having come on the back of a near nine-month absence. Silver Accord is another newcomer to hurdles, this gelding having made his last start in the Aintree bumper back in the spring. That proved to be overly ambitious as the horse was pulled up but prior to that he had shown solid form in National Hunt Flat races, with arguably the pick of the six-year-olds efforts coming on ground similar to todays. If fit after a seven month break the horse can take a hand in the finish here. Of the others with hurdles form in the book perhaps Turbo Shandy is best but he's had plenty of chances whilst No Wonga is another interesting recruit to the winter game, although he was only modest on the flat and will have to have improved for the switch to jumping to trouble the judge here. A big field and with it a tough puzzle to solve but we'll take Northern Gem to shine brightest.
American Cricket (IRE) 12-1 (11-0) Led, headed 5th, weakening when not fluent 3 out, 11th of 88, 46l behind Breedsbreeze (11-0) at Chepstow 2m 4f mdn hdl (5) gd in Nov '07.
Black Apache (IRE) 12-1 (11-0) Chased leaders, ridden and weakened approaching 3 out, 9th of 13, 46l behind Sonowyouno (11-0) at Aintree 2m mdn hdl (4) gs in Oct.
Glebehall Bay (IRE) 14-1 (11-0) Prominent, lost place approaching 7th, weakened approaching 3 out, 7th of 13, 20l behind My Friend Sandy (11-0) at Chepstow 2m 4f mdn hdl (4) sft.
Harellie (IRE) 40-1 (10-9) In touch, lost place 3 out, soon weakened, 12th of 13, well behind The Giant Bolster (10-12) at Market Rasen 2m 3f nh nov hdl (4) sft.
I'm In The Pink (FR) 16-1 (10-9) Took keen hold, soon tracking leader, led 8f out, headed 3f out, weakened 2f out, 7th of 12, 21l behind Goodwill Phil (11-0) at Worcester 2m NH flat (6) gf in May '08.
Kellystown Lad (IRE) 10-1 (10-12) Behind, under pressure 7th, soon no impression, 5th of 14, 44l behind Going Wrong (10-12) at Carlisle 2m 4f nh nov hdl (4) sft.
Mezuzah 12-1 (8-11) Held up, not much room 3f out, driven and kept on from over 1f out, never nearer, 8th of 16, 8l behind Stevie Gee (9-1) at Doncaster 7f hcp (4) sft in Apr '08 (flat).
Mysortofman 50-1 (10-12) Mid-division, pushed along approaching 2nd, went modest 4th when mistake 2 out, mistake last, never dangerous, 4th of 10, 26l behind Royal Charm (10-12) at Exeter 2m 1f nh nov hdl (3) gs.
Northern Jem 16-1 (9-2) Tracked leaders, not clear run over 1f out, soon switched right to challenge, kept on, not pace of winner, 3rd of 11, 2l behind Nevada Desert (9-0) at Doncaster 1m 2f hcp 0-80 (4) gs in Oct (flat).
No Wonga 11-4fav (9-0) Held up in touch, took closer order 7f out, went 3rd 4f out, ridden 2f out, one pace, lost 3rd inside final furlong, 4th of 7, 2l behind Royal Trooper (9-8) at Catterick 1m 6f hcp 0-75 (5) sft (flat).
Pension Plan 18-1 (11-0) In touch, lost place over 6f out, soon behind, 16th of 17, well behind Solway Sam (11-2) at Aintree 2m 1f NH flat (4) gd in Oct.
Pinerock (IRE) 6-1 (10-7) Chased leaders until hit 2 out, ridden and beaten when hung badly left well before last, 5th of 7, 31l behind Aegean Dawn (10-12) at Folkestone 2m 1f NH nov hdl 4-6yo (4) gs.
Ruttan Lake (IRE) 150-1 (10-12) Held up mid-division, weakened 3 out, 6th of 8, 43l behind Spring Jim (10-12) at Leicester 2m nh nov hdl (4) gd.
Santinho (IRE) 100-1 (10-9) Towards rear, weakened from 5th, tailed off, 7th of 8, well behind Solent (10-12) at Bangor 2m 1f nh nov hdl (4) gd in Aug '08.
Silver Accord (IRE) 66-1 (11-4) Held up in touch, quickly weakened over 4f out, pulled up, in a race won by Sitting Tennant (11-4) at Aintree 2m 1f nat hunt flat Grade 2 (1) gs in Apr, 19 ran.
Turbo Shandy 11-4 (10-7) Held up towards rear, ran out onto chase course between 5th and 6th, in a race won by Mallusk (10-12) at Uttoxeter 2m nh nov hdl (4) hvy, 9 ran.
