held up mid-division, hit 3rd, headway 5th, shaken up to lead 2 out, soon ridden, driven out flat
held up in touch, lost place after 5th, renewed effort 3 out, no headway from 2 out
prominent, chased leader after 2nd to 3 out, soon pushed along, ridden after 2 out, stayed on one pace under pressure flat
held up mid-division, not fluent 6th, pushed along and progress before 3 out, ridden approaching 2 out, weakened last
prominent until ridden and weakened approaching 3 out, tailed off
held up and behind, headway on outside approaching 4th, every chance when blundered badly 3 out, not recover
led, pushed along and headed 2 out, soon ridden, weakened flat
held up in touch, mistake 6th, weakened approaching 3 out
held up in rear, hit 4th, ridden and headway last, stayed on to take 4th last strides, nearest finish
held up and behind, headway on outside approaching 2 out, pushed along and went 2nd last, ridden and kept on same pace flat
Gennady has struggled off higher marks since scoring at Kelso back in October while Celtic Flames represents last year’s winning yard and should have come on for a recent reappearance at Hexham. Robeam has faced tougher tasks since winning a maiden hurdle at Sedgefield and is another to consider but AL KHERB may edge this. The latter was placed off a higher mark at Market Rasen when last over hurdles in April and will be sharper for a recent outing on the all-weather. Bluefortytwo has undergone wind surgery since last in action and Point Break is another likely to finish closer on his second start after a wind operation.
Gennady (IRE) 7-1 (11-8) Held up in rear, mistake 4 out, headway after next, mistake when chasing leaders 2 out, stayed on same pace, 3rd of 9, 8 3/4l behind Masters Apprentice (11-6) at Sedgefield 2m 1f hcp (4) sft in Dec.
Al Kherb 10-1 (9-12) Raced wide in touch, headway to track leaders 4f out, ridden 2f out, weakened final furlong, 5th of 8, 13 3/4l behind Rasaasy (8-13) at Southwell 1m 4f hcp (4) pol in Dec.
Raashdy (IRE) 12-1 (11-7) Chased leaders, lost place after 3 out, 5th of 9, 25 3/4l behind Masters Apprentice (11-6) at Sedgefield 2m 1f hcp (4) sft in Dec.
Bluefortytwo 5-1 (11-0) Held up, weakened before 3 out, 7th of 11, 29 1/2l behind Nelson Road (11-0) at Newcastle 2m 5f (4) gs in Apr.
Our Lucas (IRE) 10-1 (11-5) Close up, dropped to rear 4th, not fluent 6th, outpaced next, 5th of 8, 33 1/4l behind Cracking Destiny (11-12) at Musselburgh 2m hcp (4) gs in Nov.
Point Break (IRE) 7-1 (11-8) Held up towards rear, headway before 4th, not much room 5th, weakened before 2 out, 6th of 9, dist behind Goldencard (11-5) at Kelso 2m hcp (4) sft in Oct.
Celtic Flames (IRE) 14-1 (11-9) Held up towards rear, not fluent 3rd, headway when jumped right 6th, every chance before last, 3rd and no extra inside final 100 yards, 3rd of 9, 5 1/4l behind Baby Ticker (11-6) at Hexham 2m 4f hcp (4) hvy in Dec.
Robeam (IRE) 33-1 (10-12) Held up last, pushed along after 4 out, mistake 2 out, went modest 4th between last 2, 4th of 6, 19 3/4l behind Navajo Pass (10-12) at Doncaster 2m 1f (1) sft in Dec.
Ted Veale (IRE) 25-1 (11-6) Tracked leader, hit 3rd and 3 out, not fluent next, soon weakened, 6th of 9, 25 3/4l behind Masters Apprentice (11-6) at Sedgefield 2m 1f hcp (4) sft in Dec.
Crackdeloust (FR) 25-1 (11-2) Held up towards rear, closer in mid-division 4 out, weakened before next, tailed off, 12th of 13, dist behind Pagero (10-12) at Doncaster 2m 1f hcp (4) sft in Dec.
