towards rear, weakened from 4 out, pulled up next
led, headed 4 out, weakened before 2 out
tracked leaders, led 4 out, headed 3 out, weakened after 2 out
mid-division until 2nd, soon struggling behind
in rear, headway 4 out, went 4th after next, kept on to take 2nd place close home, no chance with winner
tracked leader, ridden before 2 out, one pace, no chance with winner when lost 2nd place close home
held up mid-division, outpaced before 3 out, kept on and no impression
tracked leaders, led 3 out, clear before 2 out, easily
A couple of these bid for hat-tricks but Retrieve The Stick hasn't raced since January and makes her handicap debut. JUKEBOX MELODY has the more recent form and won over track and trip before landing another handicap at Newcastle with consummate ease. He has a hefty rise in the weights to contend with but scored by a distance last time and can continue his winning ways. Blake Dean ran well in similar company to this at Catterick recently and Istimraar made the frame off today's mark at Fakenham last month, though is also engaged at Market Rasen. War Lord won a juvenile event here last season and could figure.
War Lord (IRE) 8-1 (11-6) Tracked leaders, mistake 2nd, went 2nd next, lost place 3 out, behind from next, tailed off, 9th of 10, well behind Keeneland (11-11) at Kelso 2m hcp hdl 0-120 (4) gd in Mar.
Jukebox Melody (IRE) 5-1 (11-11) Close up on outer, led from 2nd, made rest, clear before 3 out, very easily, ridden out, won at Newcastle 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-100 (5) sft beating Deportation (10-6) by 34l, 14 ran.
Retrieve The Stick 11-8fav (11-8) Tracked leaders in 3rd, challenged before 3 out, ridden before 2 out, led 2 out, pressed run-in, held on near finish, won at Newcastle 2m 4f mrs nov hdl (4) hvy in Jan beating Nosey Box (10-11) by nk, 4 ran.
Omid 11-1 (10-11) In rear, weakened from 6 out, 7th of 9, 30l behind Quel Elite (11-1) at Wetherby 3m 1f hcp hdl 0-120 (4) sft.
Snowed In (IRE) 8-1 (10-10) Towards rear, plugged on after bypassing omitted last, never involved, 5th of 10, 15l behind Spanish Fleet (11-11) at Carlisle 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-120 (4) sft in Nov.
Blake Dean 8-1 (10-6) Prominent, ridden and one pace when left 3rd 2 out, edged left and not much room last, stayed on flat, 3rd of 14, 1 1/2l behind Funky Munky (11-1) at Catterick 2m 3f con hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gd.
Turtle Cask (IRE) 7-1 (11-7) Tracked leaders, blundered 4th, not much room before 2 out and ridden, soon weakened, 5th of 7, 25l behind Prairie Lad (11-4) at Kelso 3m 3f nov hcp hdl 0-100 (5) sft.
Istimraar (IRE) 5-1 (10-4) Chased leaders, went 2nd after 2 out, ridden and no impression before last, kept on for 2nd, no chance with winner, 2nd of 8, 3 1/2l behind Grimley Girl (10-13) at Fakenham 2m nov hcp hdl 0-105 (4) sft in Nov.
