held up, smooth headway from 4 out to challenge 2 out, soon ridden and led last, driven out flat
tracked leaders, ridden approaching 4 out, weakened from next
towards rear, headway from approaching 4 out to chase leaders next, soon ridden and weakened
always towards rear, fell 2 out
prominent, ridden approaching 4 out, weakened from 2 out
tracked leaders until ridden and weakened 12th
led, ridden and headed approaching 4 out, gradually weakened
tracked leaders, headway to lead approaching 4 out, soon ridden, headed last, one pace flat
mid-division when fell 6th
It may be best to concentrate on Pencil House and Kalmo Bay here although support for Best Accolade and Clearly Now would be worth heeding. Kalmo Bay is selected. His supporters will need to forgive a poor run but it may just be worth putting a line through that run as only three of the ten runners finished. His sole win on these shores came in a similar contest at Hexham on fast ground and it could be that the better conditions will see him return to form. Best Accolade had been off the track since December 2006 prior to pulling up last time and is entitled to have needed the run. He starts his chasing and handicapping career at a realistic level and market support would be encouraging. Clearly Now has an even longer absence to overcome but this Irish raider shouldn't be dismissed lightly but Pencil House has more obvious claims. He was in the process of running a big race last time until a mistake put paid to his chances and this is probably his easiest opportunity to date over fences but we'll gamble on Kalmo Bay returning to form.
Kalmo Bay (FR) 7-1 (11-5) Always behind, reminders halfway, tailed off when pulled up at the 12th in race won by Silent Bay (11-6) at Ayr 3m 1f nov hcp chs 0-110 (4) hvy in Jan, 10 ran.
Best Accolade 10-1 (10-12) Tracked leaders, reminders 6th, weakened after 4 out, tailed off when pulled up 3 out in race won by Cadoudalas (10-12) at Newcastle 2m 4f nov hdl (4) gs in Jan, 16 ran.
Pencil House (IRE) 14-1 (11-9) Mid-division, headway 5 out, led next, mistake and headed 2 out, soon weakened, 5th of 11, 9l behind Hold The Bid (11-9) at Wetherby 3m 1f nov hcp chs 0-110 (4) gs in Dec.
Royal Glen (IRE) 11-1 (10-0) Towards rear, pushed along and headway when fell 5 out in race won by Top Dressing (10-12) at Musselburgh 2m hcp chs 0-120 (3) gs in Nov, 7 ran.
Physical Force 16-1 (11-12) Led, headed approaching 5th, pushed along 8th, weakened approaching 3 out, 4th of 12, 26l behind Northern Quest (10-0) at Catterick 2m 3f hcp chs 0-100 (4) gd in Dec.
Mister Jungle (FR) 9-2 (11-8) Led, headed 6th, stayed prominent until lost place 12th, soon ridden, weakened from 5 out, 7th of 12, well behind Stoneriggs Merc (11-2) at Musselburgh 3m cnd hcp chs (5) gs in Jan.
Banchory Two (IRE) 12-1 (11-3) Tracked leaders, ridden and lost place 4 out, soon beaten, last of 9, 45l behind Barton Sun (10-10) at Sedgefield 2m hcp chs 0-105 (4) gd in Nov.
Stravaigin 40-1 (11-11) Tracked leaders, mistake and lost place 9th, not recover and pulled up at the 10th in race won by Stormont Dawn (10-13) at Carlisle 2m 4f hcp chs 0-95 (5) sft, 11 ran.
Charles Street 250-1 (11-0) Always towards rear, lost place 7th, soon tailed off, 7th of 9, well behind Sharp Reply (11-0) at Musselburgh 2m beg chs (4) sft in Jan.
Clearly Now (IRE) 3-1fav (10-4) Mid-division, mistake 3rd, headway 7th, hit 9th, blundered 3 out, soon led, clear last, eased flat, won at Uttoxeter 2m 4f sll hcp hdl 0-100 (G) sft in Apr '05 beating Knockdoo (11-0) by 16l, 10 ran.
