held up, headway halfway to track leaders, challenged winner 4 out, ridden approaching next, one pace from 2 out
tracked leaders, ridden approaching 4 out, blundered badly next, soon beaten
led, headed 5th, ridden approaching 4 out, soon weakened
tracked leaders, hit 2nd, headway to lead 11th, ridden approaching 3 out, kept on well
mid-division, ridden approaching and blundered 9th, soon beaten
tracked leaders, mid-division halfway, hit 10th, ridden approaching 3 out, weakening when hit last
mid-division, ridden approaching 9th, soon beaten
mid-division, blundered 8th, soon lost place, pulled up before 11th
behind, blundered 1st, effort after 8th, behind and pulled up before 10th
Nonrunner
Lucky Duck is expected to follow up a recent victory at Kelso, Brooklyn Brownie and The Biker could the the main dangers. The selection is a quirky customer who generally jumps to the right. So it was a very good effort to win so impressively at a left handed track last time, comfortably getting the better of Gone Too Far. Going the other way this afternoon will suit him much better and looks set for a big run. Brooklyn Brownie couldn't have won more easily at Hexham last time but he will this a lot tougher under top-weight. The Biker also hit winning form last time, beating Iron Man over the two mile trip here. He was staying on strongly that day and will have no problems with the extra distance. Russian Sky is steadily improving and looks the pick of the others, but Lucky Duck is at the top of his game and can land first prize.
Brooklyn Brownie (IRE) 4-5fav (10-11) Tracked leaders, headway to lead between last 2, soon clear, easily, won at Hexham 2m beg chs (4) gd in May beating Topinambour (11-0) by 5l, 13 ran.
Lucky Duck 9-2 (10-13) Jumped right, tracked leaders, pushed along 4 out, ridden to lead approaching last, stayed on strongly, won at Kelso 2m 1f hcp chs 0-125 (3) gd in May beating Gone Too Far (11-9) by 3 1/2l, 8 ran.
Russian Sky 3-1 (10-7) Tracked leader, led 6th, headed last, kept on same pace, 2nd of 6, 6l behind Celtic Boy (11-10) at Kelso 3m 1f chs (3) gd in May.
Red Man (IRE) 2-1fav (11-2) Mid-division lost place 4 out, 8th of 12, well behind Rossin Gold (10-5) at Cartmel 2m 1f cnd hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gs in May.
Mooramana 9-2 (11-1) Raced keenly in touch, bumped 4 out, led briefly between last 2, soon ridden, kept on same pace, 2nd of 12, 3l behind Contract Scotland (10-10) at Hexham 2m 4f hcp chs 0-110 (4) gd in May.
Heather Lad 25-1 (11-0) Chased leaders, lost place 10th, headway 3 out, effort between last 2, one pace run-in, 3rd of 11, 1l behind Field Roller (11-0) at Hexham 2m 4f nov chs (4) gf.
The Biker (IRE) 17-2 (10-4) Behind, outpaced when hit 8th, driven, headway 3 out, left 2nd next, ridden to lead last, stayed on well, won at Perth 2m chs (3) sft in May beating Iron Man (11-4) by 9l, 4 ran.
Field Roller (IRE) 20-1 (11-0) Held up, headway 9th, led 10th, clear 3 out, all out towards finish, won at Hexham 2m 4f nov chs (4) gf beating River Alder (10-7) by a nk, 11 ran.
