close up when blundered and unseated rider 1st
made all, reminders and pushed along past omitted fence before 8th, ridden and strongly pressed last, kept on gamely towards finish
tracked leaders in 3rd and in rear, went 2nd before 10th and travelled well, going well when challenged before last, kept on and no extra towards finish
tracked winner until before 10th, weakened from 2 out
Callum Bewley gave MILAN ROYALE a confident ride to score at Hexham last Friday. He has escaped a penalty for that success and a follow-up could be on the cards as Runswick Days keeps finding one too good and is getting no respite from the handicapper. Prince Blackthorn won twice over course and distance last winter but is 6lb higher than for the last of those victories and hasn't raced since pulled up at the track in March. Force Of Habit was beaten when falling behind the selection at Catterick in December and his form has been patchy since.
Milan Royale 10-3 (10-11) Tracked leaders and keen, led 4 out, kept on well from last, won at Hexham 2m 4f hcp chs 0-100 (5) sft beating Hallmark Star (11-9) by 1 1/2l, 6 ran.
Runswick Days (IRE) 5-1 (10-9) Tracked leaders in 3rd, pushed along before 2 out, soon chased winner, one pace, 2nd of 7, 13l behind Montoya's Son (11-7) at Sedgefield 2m 4f hcp chs 0-105 (4) gs in Oct.
Prince Blackthorn (IRE) 7-2 (11-8) Off the pace in 4th, reminders 6th soon weakened, behind and pulled up before 8th, in a race won by Solway Dornal (9-13) at Sedgefield 2m 4f hcp chs 0-100 (5) gs in Mar, 6 ran.
Force Of Habit 25-1 (10-1) Held up in touch, weakened from 4 out, 5th of 8, 43l behind Carters Rest (9-7) at Sedgefield 2m nov hcp chs 0-105 (4) gs in Oct.
