held up mid-division, headway and in touch 4th, effort 3 out, soon ridden, no impression from next
held up, headway 3 out, ridden and stayed on to go 3rd between last 2, no impression flat
held up, headway on outside after 4 out, chased leaders next, kept on same pace
mid-division, lost place 4 out, soon weakened
tracked leading pair, effort to lead 3 out, ridden and stayed on well flat
mid-division when blundered and unseated rider 1st
held up, struggling from 3rd, no danger after
behind, chased leaders 3 out, weakened next
mid-division, chased leaders when not fluent 5th, ridden and outpaced 3 out, weakened next
led, headed 3 out, soon ridden, kept on same pace under pressure from next
tracked leader, lost place 3 out, soon outpaced, no impression from next
GRANDAD BILL was a fair sort on the flat and he can win the finale at the main expense of Sumak and Lightening Rod. The selection is having only his third run over hurdles but he has won five times on the flat and he ran a sound race in fourth behind Turbo Shandy at Ayr last month. The ground will not be a problem for him and he looks to have been given a chance by the handicapper here. Sumak registered his first win over hurdles at Sedgefield last time and the further he went the better he looked. With that in mind this drop back to 2m is a slight cause for concern. Lightening Rod hails from a shrewd yard and he is certainly one to note in the market. He was third behind Tilt last time who has since been out and gone close so the form looks solid enough. Ifandbutwhy has not been out since October but if he is fit enough to do himself justice he could go well as he did score in impressive fashion that day at Wetherby. High Stand Lad and Motive are others to consider, but Grandad Bill makes more appeal and he gets the vote,
Nelson du Ronceray (FR) 8-1 (11-7) Headway to chase leaders 3 out, challenged next, weakened from last, 5th of 10, 28l behind Cassius (11-1) at Kelso 2m hcp hdl 0-120 (3) sft in Dec.
Lightening Rod 7-2 (11-2) Tracked leaders, ridden and mistake 2 out, weakened approaching last, 3rd of 15, 19l behind Tilt (10-12) at Catterick 2m 3f nh nov hdl (4) gs in Dec.
Motive (FR) 6-1 (11-2) Held up, reminders approaching 8th, outpaced 5 out, good headway approaching 4 out, weakened from next, 8th of 9, 30l behind Fred Bojangals (10-0) at Musselburgh 2m hcp chs 0-120 (3) gs in Nov.
Sumak (FR) 10-3 (11-7) Behind, hampered 5th, headway under pressure after 3 out, soon ridden, stayed on to lead flat, won at Sedgefield 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) sft in Dec beating Waterloo Corner (11-0) by 3 1/2l, 10 ran.
Grandad Bill (IRE) 9-1 (11-0) Tracked leaders, headway approaching 2 out, soon outpaced, 4th of 10, 3 1/2l behind Turbo Island (10-9) at Ayr 2m hdl (3) sft in Dec.
Ifandbutwhy (IRE) 8-1 (10-12) Held up, smooth headway well before 3 out, took narrow lead 3 out, hit 2 out, in command when not fluent last, kept on well, won at Wetherby 2m 4f nov hdl (4) gd in Oct beating Chicago Outfit (10-12) by 7l, 4 ran.
Its Tough (IRE) 8-1 (11-3) Prominent, reminder after 1st, weakened from 4 out, 8th of 10, 44l behind Cassius (11-1) at Kelso 2m hcp hdl 0-120 (3) sft in Dec.
Nevsky Bridge 8-1 (10-12) Held up, went 4th 2 out, no impression, 6th of 9, well behind Open de L'Isle (11-6) at Carlisle 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-125 (3) hvy in Nov.
Waldo Winchester (IRE) 8-1 (11-3) Always behind, 7th of 10, 39l behind Sumak (11-7) at Sedgefield 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) sft in Dec.
High Stand Lad 9-4fav (11-7) Led to before 1st, in touch, lost place 4th, soon behind, tailed off 2 out, 8th of 10, well behind Sumak (11-7) at Sedgefield 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) sft in Dec.
Domino Dancer (IRE) 9-2 (11-7) Promient, hit 2nd, ridden and outpaced 3 out, weakened from next, 5th of 10, 22l behind Sumak (11-7) at Sedgefield 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) sft in Dec.
