held up towards rear, headway 7th, driven to lead between last 2, headed narrowly last, ridden and stayed on to lead again final 50 yards
behind, struggling halfway, tailed off 3 out
in touch, lost place 8th, soon behind, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out
mid-division, weakened approaching 4 out, 6th and beaten when pulled up before 2 out
held up, outpaced 4 out, soon ridden and weakened, tailed off
tracked leaders, went 2nd after 4 out, driven and stayed on to lead narrowly last, soon ridden, headed and no extra final 50 yards
in rear when blundered and unseated rider 4th
led to 8th, soon outpaced, behind when pulled up before 3 out
tracked leader, led 8th, ridden and headed between last 2, no extra
mid-division, mistake 3rd, outpaced 9th, soon behind, tailed off
mid-division, lost place 6th, soon well behind, tailed off
mid-division, weakened 8th, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out
COOLDINE LAD loves the mud and is taken here to get the better of likely market rivals It's Bertie and Cedar Rapids. Howard Johnson's gelding has first time blinkers to concentrate the mind, as all too often he's failed to complete a race, although a win on his penultimate outing in the Carlisle mud shows the ability is there. Expect a patient ride from Denis O'Regan. It's Bertie should also be able to handle the ground, but his last win was nearly two and a half years ago. He drops back in trip following a couple of runners up spots. Harry Hogarth's chasers do well, and Cedar Rapids has the ability, but may find the going too tough. Barton Son is the only course and distance winner in the field, and although Graham Lee has a tremendous record at the circuit, the win did come on a faster surface well over a year ago. So all things considered, we'll side with Cooldine Lad.
Thatlldoforme 12-1 (11-5) Mid-division and outside, outpaced halfway, soon behind, 9th of 13, 48l behind Well Disguised (10-2) at Newcastle 2m hcp hdl 0-100 (4) sft in Dec.
Royal Glen (IRE) 9-1 (10-0) Mid-division, ridden 7th and soon beaten, 6th of 10, 38l behind Watch My Back (11-2) at Musselburgh 2m hcp chs 0-120 (3) gd in Dec.
Cooldine Lad (IRE) 9-4fav (11-10) Mid-division, mistake 4 out, soon weakened, 6th of 10, 44l behind Norminster (11-2) at Carlisle 2m hcp chs 0-90 (5) hvy in Dec.
Aztec Prince (IRE) 11-2 (11-7) Towards rear, hit 4th, some headway 8th, no impression from next, pulled up before last pulled up at the last in race won by Insurgent (10-7) at Kelso 2m 1f hcp chs 0-100 (4) gs in Apr '07, 12 ran.
Barton Sun (IRE) 17-2 (9-13) Mid-division, ridden 4 out, chased leaders approaching 2 out, soon ridden and weakened, 8th of 14, 31l behind Agglestone Rock (10-4) at Sedgefield 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-95 (5) sft in Dec.
It's Bertie 4-1fav (10-6) Led, ridden and headed last, no extra flat, 2nd of 15, 9l behind Player (11-9) at Catterick 2m 3f hcp chs 0-100 (4) gs in Dec.
Stoneriggs Silver 66-1 (11-4) Chased leaders until ridden and weakened 3 out, 15th of 16, well behind Snow's Ride (11-7) at Kelso 2m 6f cnd hcp hdl 0-100 (4) gd in Oct '07. Later dsq to last.
Cedar Rapids (IRE) 12-1 (10-3) Led, clear 3rd, ridden 2 out, driven and headed close home, 3rd of 11, 4 1/2l behind Frith (10-2) at Catterick 2m hcp chs 0-105 (4) gd in Dec.
Storm Surge (IRE) 16-1 (11-4) Led to 2nd, remained close up, every chance 4 out, no extra from 2 out, 5th of 10, 8l behind Norminster (11-2) at Carlisle 2m hcp chs 0-90 (5) hvy in Dec.
Naval Attache 100-1 (10-9) Held up in rear, mistake 2nd, weakened from 6th, 4th of 6, well behind The Duke's Speech (11-0) at Wetherby 2m beg chs (4) sft in Dec.
Lucozade 20-1 (10-0) In rear, headway 4f out, ridden and weakened approaching last, 7th of 14, 25l behind Falpiase (11-11) at Wetherby 2m 4f nov hcp hdl 0-110 (4) sft in Dec.
Bullies Acre (IRE) 14-1 (9-9) Led 2nd, hit 8th, headed last, kept on, 3rd of 10, 7l behind Norminster (11-2) at Carlisle 2m hcp chs 0-90 (5) hvy in Dec.
