held up towards rear, jumped left 3rd, weakened from 8th, soon tailed off, pulled up before last
tracked leaders, mistake 9th, led approaching 3 out, not fluent and soon headed, weakened 2 out
held up towards rear, niggled approaching 6th, headway after 3 out, kept on same pace from last
tracked leaders, led after 3 out, soon headed, no extra run-in
led, headed approaching 3 out, soon weakened, tailed off
held up in touch, challenged 3 out, led soon after, jumped left 2 out, hung right flat, driven out
held up in rear, not fluent 2nd, reminders after 6th, soon pushed along, tailed off from 7th, pulled up before 10th
with leader, mistake 2nd, ridden and weakened after 3 out, pulled up before last
DIAMOND FRONTIER appears to like life around Carlisle and if he is far enough forward in his work, he will be tough to beat off this handicap mark. Sotovik was withdrawn from a seemingly easier engagement at the weekend so it will be interesting to see how the market reacts this afternoon to his inclusion. He is due to reoppose a number of rivals including Et Maintenant, who disappointed badly last time out in spite of significant market interest. Le Roi Rouge has tended to improve for a first run back so he should be able to be somewhat more competitive than he was in October. Adajal has shown little for Jonjo O'Neill since arriving from Ireland and is probably best watched until there is any evidence of a return to form.
Adajal (IRE) 10-1 (11-11) Held up behind, outpaced 4 out, never dangerous, tailed off, 7th of 9, well behind Just Smudge (11-4) at Aintree 2m 4f hcp chs 0-135 (3) gs in Oct.
Diamond Frontier (IRE) 4-6fav (11-2) Led, not fluent 1st, headed 5th, remained close up, led again after 5 out, clear from 2 out, ridden out, won at Carlisle 2m nov chs (4) sft in Apr beating Lord Larsson (10-12) by 12l, 6 ran.
Le Roi Rouge (FR) 17-2 (11-12) Held up towards rear, never a factor, 9th of 12, 29l behind Sotovik (10-7) at Carlisle 2m hcp chs 0-125 (4) gs in Oct.
Et Maintenant (FR) 5-1fav (11-9) Tracked leaders, weakened after 5 out, 7th of 12, 24l behind Sotovik (10-7) at Carlisle 2m hcp chs 0-125 (4) gs in Oct.
Hockenheim (FR) 12-1 (10-12) Held up towards rear, hampered and unseated rider 4th, in a race won by Himalayan Trail (11-7) at Carlisle 3m hcp chs 0-130 (3) sft in Apr, 16 ran.
Sibenek (IRE) 25-1 (11-4) Towards rear, blundered and unseated rider 4th, in a race won by Alvarado (11-4) at Carlisle 2m 4f nov chs (4) gs in Oct, 13 ran.
Jimmy Bond 11-2 (10-12) Held up in touch main group, driven and lost place after 5 out, soon outpaced, behind when hit 3 out, last of 7, 27l behind Agglestone Rock (11-10) at Wetherby 2m 4f hcp chs 0-135 (3) sft in Apr.
Sotovik (IRE) 8-1 (10-7) Tracked leader, jumped right 6th, 7th and 8th, ridden approaching 2 out, kept on gamely to lead close home, won at Carlisle 2m hcp chs 0-125 (4) gs in Oct beating Cantgeton (11-4) by 1l, 12 ran.
