in touch, struggling from 6th
led and raced keen, headed 4 out, weakened next
close up, every chance approaching 3 out, one paced when blundered last
chased leaders and keen, effort 4 out, no extra from next
held up, headway 4 out, weakened from next
always towards rear
close up, led 4 out, not fluent and headed last, rallied and regained lead near finish
behind, some late headway, never dangerous
mid-division, struggling from 4 out
held up, ridden and weakened from 3 out
chased leaders, weakened approaching 3 out
mid-division, outpace approaching 4 out
held up, headway to go in touch 5 out, weakened 3 out
held up, smooth headway to track leaders approaching 3 out, led last, headed towards finish
behind, saddle soon slipped, pulled up after 5th
always behind
Wee Bertie sprang a bit of a surprise when winning over the course and distance last month and as there appeared no fluke about that then we will take him to win again at the main expense of Willie The Fish and Airedale Lad, with Caipiroska another danger. The selection has risen five pounds in the weights for his recent win when he showed that he has improved over the summer. Previously he had shown little since winning a Perth bumper but with more improvement to come and the ground to suit, this unexposed gelding can win again. Caipiroska won well over fences last time at Perth and this strong stayer must be taken seriously now able to race off a much lower mark now on this return to hurdles having won off a mark of 105 last time out and able to race off 76 here. Norminster is yet to win in 19 starts but ran well behind the selection last time and has a pull in the weights today. Willie The Fish disappointed over fences last time out when he was a well-supported favourite but he cannot be easily overlooked on this return to timber given the way he demolished a field at Hexham in October. Airedale Lad is consistent but may find this too much of a stamina test, and so we return to Wee Bertie to win again.
Willie The Fish (IRE) 11-10fav (11-0) Mid-division, reminders 8th, pushed along 11th, soon weakened, tailed off when pulled up at the 15th in race won by Blazing Hills (11-12) at Newcastle 3m hcp chs (5) gf, 11 ran.
Harbour Breeze (IRE) 12-1 (11-0) Held up, outpaced 3 out, ridden next, never on terms, 6th of 11, 7l behind Garryvoe (11-12) at Southwell 3m 2f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gd in Jun.
Kellbury 28-1 (11-5) Chased leaders until approaching 3 out, tailed off, 6th of 10, well behind Sherwoods Folly (11-5) at Leicester 2m 4f nh nov hdl (3) gs in Jan.
Tom's Toybox 8-1 (10-9) Held up in touch, weakened from 2 out, 5th of 15, 35l behind Wee Forbees (10-12) at Catterick 3m 1f nov hdl (4) sft in Jan.
Wee Bertie (IRE) 14-1 (10-13) Held up, headway and jumped left approaching last, led run-in, driven out, won at Carlisle 2m 4f nov hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gd in Oct beating High Bird Humphrey (10-9) by 1l, 18 ran.
Airedale Lad (IRE) 10-1 (11-5) Held up towards rear, headway 3 out, kept on from 2 out, 3rd of 9, 9l behind Atticus Boy (11-9) at Wetherby 2m 3f nov hdl (4) gf in Oct.
Talesofriverbank 150-1 (9-12) Held up in rear, struggling from 5th, 7th of 9, well behind Crocodiles Rock (10-12) at Aintree 2m 4f nh nov hdl (3) gd in Oct.
Go Johnny (IRE) 7-1 (10-9) Tracked leaders, reminder 4th, ridden approaching 3 out, soon weakened, 5th of 15, 36l behind Le Briar Soul (11-1) at Perth 2m 4f nov hcp hdl 0-115 (3) gs in Apr.
Medic (IRE) 20-1 (11-0) Chased leaders, ridden approaching 3 out, weakened approaching last, 8th of 18, 14l behind Hue (10-11) at Wetherby 2m mdn hdl (5) gf in Oct.
Norminster 25-1 (10-2) Held up, headway 4 out, disputing 2nd when hampered last, kept on, 3rd of 18, 1 1/2l behind Wee Bertie (10-13) at Carlisle 2m 4f nov hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gd in Oct.
Seeking Straight (IRE) 33-1 (10-10) Always towards rear, 8th of 10, 28l behind Newton Bridge (11-3) at Perth 2m 4f nov hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gf in Sept.
Mischief Man 33-1 (11-2) Raced keenly, always behind, 10th of 14, 45l behind John Forbes (11-6) at Catterick 2m nov hdl (4) sft in Mar.
Caught In Time (IRE) 8-1 (10-5) Held up in touch, ridden to chase leaders 3 out, switched right 2 out, kept on close home, 2nd of 13, 4l behind Herecomestanley (11-6) at Lingfield 2m 7f hcp hdl 0-100 (4) gf in Sept.
Mensio (IRE) 25-1 (11-2) Always behind, 11th of 13, well behind Neptune Joly (11-2) at Sedgefield 2m 1f nov hdl (4) hvy in Feb.
Tin Healy's Pass 8-1 (10-9) Towards rear, never dangerous, 6th of 14, 8l behind Charlie George (11-2) at Hexham 2m hcp chs 0-95 (5) gf.
Caipiroska 7-2fav (10-11) Held up, smooth headway approaching 4 out, chased leaders 2 out, ridden approaching last, kept on to lead close home, won at Perth 3m hcp chs 0-120 (3) gd in Sept beating Bafana Boy (11-6) by 1 1/2l, 14 ran.
Kinfayre Boy 100-1 (10-7) In touch to halfway, soon behind, tailed off when pulled up 3 out in race won by Falcon's Tribute (10-3) at Hexham 2m hcp hdl 0-95 (5) gf, 16 ran.
Subsidise (IRE) 14-1 (10-7) Always towards rear and pulled up 3 out in race won by Roadworthy (10-9) at Ayr 2m cnd hcp hdl (5) hvy in Dec, 15 ran.
