took keen hold, led, headed before 2nd, lost place 8th, behind 3 out, pulled up after
held up in mid-division, headway before 4th, hit 8th, not fluent 3 out, 4th and beaten when not fluent last
mid-division, pushed along before 4th, weakened before 2 out
chased leaders on outside, challenged briefly 6th, led 3 out, driven flat, all out
chased leaders, mistake 7th, weakened 2 out
held up towards rear, not fluent 3rd, headway approaching 3 out, chasee winner before 2 out until before last, 3rd and held when flashed tail flat
held up in rear, headway 2 out, went 2nd before last, stayed on, just held
tracked leaders, jumped left 1st, lost place after 4th, well beaten 3 out
prominent, led before 2nd, mistake 6th, headed 3 out, weakened after next
Lucinda Russell will be hoping that new inmate Touchedbyanangel can carry forward his form from Ireland, where he won three of his last four. But he’s been off the track for a while so others are preferred. Lord Wishes doesn’t stand much racing nowadays but isn’t badly handicapped and Benny's Secret should find a small race if he brushes up his jumping. Ask Paddington only won a Sedgefield maiden in November and hasn’t raced since so we’ll take a chance on CRAIG STAR, who has Brian Hughes back in the saddle and was second off a 6lb higher mark here at the end of last year.
Touchedbyanangel (IRE) 7-1 (11-8) Chased leaders, 5th after 4th, good headway before 2 out, ridden in 2nd approaching straight, closed before last, kept on, strongly challenged leader closing stages, led on line, won at Kilbeggan 2m hcp gd in Aug beating Billy's Angel (11-9) by hd, 14 ran.
Lord Wishes (IRE) 22-1 (11-4) Tracked leader, led after 3rd, headed after next, led 9th, headed 2 out, no extra flat, 4th of 6, 10 3/4l behind Bordeaux Bill (11-9) at Kelso 2m 7f hcp (3) gd in Feb.
Kerisper (FR) 16-1 (11-10) Chased leaders on inside, pushed along before 2 out, weakened between last 2, 4th of 11, 7 1/4l behind Bonza Girl (11-7) at Lingfield 2m 7f hcp (4) sft in Jan.
Ask Paddington (IRE) 4-1 (10-12) Led 1st, made rest, ridden between last 2, not fluent last, joined flat, kept on under pressure, just held on, won at Sedgefield 2m 5f mdn (4) gd in Nov beating Colby (10-12) by shd, 10 ran.
Craig Star (IRE) 9-2 (10-4) Chased leaders, weakened after 3 out, last of 5, 21 3/4l behind Mahlervous (11-0) at Kelso 2m 5f hcp (2) gd in Jan.
Temple Man 7-1 (10-7) Keen in touch, blundered badly 4th and 5th, soon pulled up, at Newcastle 2m hcp (4) sft in Dec.
Benny's Secret (IRE) 2-1fav (11-11) Waited with in rear, dived at 3rd, mistake 8th, headway on outside approaching 4 out, 4th and well held when hit last, kept on into 3rd towards finish, 3rd of 6, 4 1/4l behind Old Salt (11-11) at Musselburgh 2m 4f hcp (4) gd in Feb.
Fully Booked 7-1 (11-4) Keen, chased leaders, weakened 2 out, 5th of 8, 17 1/2l behind Erik The Red (11-4) at Kelso 2m (4) gd in Jan.
Reivers Lodge 28-1 (11-7) Chased leader who went clear after 3rd, closer after 4 out, lost 2nd before next, rallied to lead run-in, headed and not pace of winner final 110 yards, lost 2nd post, 3rd of 14, 2 1/4l behind Frame Rate (11-1) at Musselburgh 2m 4f hcp (5) gs in Mar.
