held up and behind, mistake 8th, hampered 11th, ridden 14th, soon beaten, tailed off
towards rear, mistake 8th, hampered 11th, lost touch 14th, behind when pulled up before 4 out
behind, reminders 6th, lost touch 9th, pulled up before next
chased leaders, hit 4th, ridden 14th, chased winner approaching 3 out, jumped right from next, weakened last
held up, blundered 2nd, pushed along from halfway, weakened 3 out
held up in touch, mistake 6th, headway to lead 14th, clear 3 out, hit next, easily
in touch when fell 11th
keen, led and clear to 10th, headed 14th, weakened approaching 4 out, behind when pulled up before next
held up, mistake 10th, hampered next, headway approaching 4 out, stayed on to go 2nd approaching 2 out, kept on, no chance with winner
in touch, ridden to chase winner 4 out, outpaced next, weakened 2 out
The Grey Dyer has to give weight away but can still prove too strong for Clear dawn and and Trusting Tom. The Len Lungo-trained 10-year-old is on a retrieval mission after his mishap at Haydock on his seasonal reappearance. Ridden by Gary Berridge, he was two lengths clear when taking the wrong course approaching the final fence. His rider received a 12-day ban and now Tony Dobbin is back in the plate. He seemed to be back on good terms with himself at Haydock after floundering in the heavy ground on a number of occasions last term, and is taken to put matters right. Clear Dawn was successful under Graham Lee at Musselburgh and should again go well, while Trusting Tom will certainly be outstaying a few of these after chasing home Celioso in the Lincolnshire National at Market Rasen on Boxing Day. The latter's trainer sends out both Shardante and Free To Run here and it would be no surprise if one of them were to be placed, but if we are looking for the winner, then we have to return to The Grey Dyer.
