made all, stayed on strongly from last
chased winner, ridden approaching 2 out, one pace and no impression
chased leaders, ridden and weakened approaching 2 out
held up, headway 4 out, kept on same pace from 2 out
held up in touch, weakened after 3 out
in rear and mistakes, struggling from 9th, soon tailed off
always behind, pushed along after 7th, soon struggling, tailed off
chased leaders, outpaced 4 out
Hot Weld can give weight away to Uneven Line, Iris's Prince and Allez Scotia in the first race on the card. Trainer Ferdy Murphy said that Hot Weld had little chance of scoring in handicap company when rated 108 before Christmas, so his effort here last time in finishing fifth to Commercial Flyer off 118 was probably a fair effort. Prior to that he had been pitched into Grade 2 company in the River Don at Doncaster where he was pulled up, and today's contest presents a much easier opportunity for the six-year-old to get back to winning ways, even if the ground is likely to be a bit faster than ideal. Uneven Line ran well behind Bellaney Jewel at Hexham and is a danger along with Iris's Prince who will appreciate the step up in trip after staying on behind Hernando's Boy at Kelso. Irish trainer Jimmy Lambe is double-handed with Greenfort Brave and Poor Tactic's and a look at the market will no doubt reveal which is the more fancied, but Hot Weld is still the one to beat.
Hot Weld 13-2 Led, mistake 5th, ridden and headed 2 out, soon weakened, 5th of 11, 19l behind Commercial Flyer at Perth 3m 3f cnd hcp hdl 0-125 (D) gs in Apr.
Iris's Prince 16-1 Chased leaders, ridden approaching 2 out, stayed on to chase winner last, one pace under pressure, 2nd of 8, 3 1/2l behind Hernando's Boy at Kelso 2m 6f hdl (E) gs in Apr.
Greenfort Brave (IRE) 25-1 Mid-division, weakened before 4 out, behind when pulled up 4 out in race won by Mandm at Navan 3m mdn hdl hvy in Feb, 18 ran.
High Bird Humphrey 16-1 Prominent, ridden and weakened after 7th, behind when fell 4 out in race won by Ess of Norway at Plumpton 2m 5f nh nov hdl (E) gd in Dec, 13 ran.
Mr Auchterlonie (IRE) 4-1 Always behind, tailed off when pulled up 5 out in race won by Midlem Melody at Carlisle 2m 4f hcp chs 0-105 (E) gs in Mar, 9 ran.
Allez Scotia 12-1 In touch until after 4th, soon lost place, 8th of 9, well behind Bollin Annabel at Hexham 2m cnd hcp hdl 0-110 (E) sft in Mar.
Uneven Line 20-1 Led until after 2nd, chased leaders, outpaced 4 out, ridden 2 out, stayed on well from last, never troubled leaders, 3rd of 11, 4 1/2l behind Bellaney Jewel at Hexham 3m nov hdl (E) gd in Apr.
Poor Tactic's (IRE) 14-1 Behind, improved into 9th before 2 out, kept on, 6th of 20, 23l behind Shoot The Breeze at Down Royal 2m 6f mdn hdl gd.
