led, headed before last, kept on same pace and no chance with winner
held up towards rear, effort before 3 out, soon weakened
held up towards rear, headway before 3 out to chase leaders, one pace in 3rd before last
held up mid-division, weakened before 3 out
held up mid-division, pushed along after 4 out, soon weakened, pulled up before 2 out
tracked leaders in 5th, ridden after 2 out, soon weakened
in touch, went 3rd before 3 out, weakened last
tracked leaders, weakened from 5 out, pulled up
prominent, headway 4 out and going well, shaken up to lead before last, kept on well
held up behind, pushed along before 5 out, soon weakened, pulled up
tracked leader, joined leader 5 out, ridden and weakened before 3 out
held up towards rear, weakened from 5 out
The weather claimed the big Christmas meeting here and the ground will be very heavy today. Road To Gold appeared to outstay his rivals when scoring over 2m at Kelso so should have no problem with the longer trip. Shine Away has yet to finish out of the frame over timber and is still improving. Lough Salt wasn't beaten far over a similar trip at Catterick on New Year's Day and will have benefited from that but Rolling Thunder may need more time judged on his second in a Sedgefield bumper. PETETHEPEAR failed to quicken at Ascot last month but could profit from today's drop in grade and gets the nod.
Road To Gold (IRE) 6-1 (10-12) Led, not fluent 3 out, hard pressed next, ridden and headed narrowly between last 2, stayed on well to regain lead towards finish, won at Kelso 2m (4) hvy in Dec beating Nuts Well (11-5) by 3/4l, 8 ran.
Along Came Theo (IRE) 22-1 (10-12) Held up in touch, hampered 3 out, chased leaders next, weakened last, 3rd of 5, 17 1/2l behind Western Rules (10-12) at Carlisle 2m 3f (4) hvy in Dec.
Barenice (FR) 10-1 (10-12) Chased leaders, pushed along and weakened before 3 out, pulled up before 2 out, at Towcester 2m 5f (4) gd in Nov.
Lough Salt (IRE) 14-1 (11-2) Tracked leaders, effort 2 out, every chance when wandered slightly approaching last, soon ridden, kept on same pace flat, 4th of 12, 1 1/2l behind Lady Yeats (11-2) at Catterick 2m 3f (4) sft in Jan.
Mr K (IRE) 50-1 (10-12) In touch, lost place 3rd, well beaten before 3 out, pulled up approaching last, at Leicester 2m 4f (4) hvy in Dec.
Petethepear (IRE) 10-1 (11-0) Held up towards rear, headway approaching 3 out, soon pushed along, chased leaders 2 out, ridden between last two, no extra approaching last, 5th of 13, 7 1/4l behind Western Cape (11-0) at Ascot 2m 6f mdn (3) sft in Dec.
Return Flight 13-2 (10-12) In touch on inside, lost place 6th, driven to chase leaders on inside before 2 out, soon ridden and no impression, stayed on to take modest 4th after last, 4th of 9, 19 3/4l behind Poulanassy (11-5) at Catterick 2m 3f (4) sft in Dec.
Rolling Thunder (IRE) 3-1 (11-4) Led, ridden 2f out, headed over 1f out, kept on same pace, no chance with winner in clear 2nd final furlong, 2nd of 4, 14l behind Tomngerry (11-4) at Sedgefield 2m 1f (6) hvy in Dec.
Sharpasaknife (IRE) Flemensfirth gelding out of Omas Lady.
What A Game (IRE) 12-1 (11-2) Mid-division, driven to chase leaders before 2 out, weakened before last, 6th of 12, 15 1/4l behind Lady Yeats (11-2) at Catterick 2m 3f (4) sft in Jan.
More Play 22-1 (10-11) Led, headed 3f out, weakened 2f out, 5th of 7, dist behind The Tailgater (11-4) at Catterick 2m (6) gs in Dec.
Shine Away (IRE) 7-1 (10-10) Tracked clear leader, led after 3 out, pressed from 2 out, headed run-in, kept on and always held towards finish, 2nd of 7, 3 1/4l behind Actinpieces (11-3) at Catterick 2m 3f (4) gs in Dec.
Tara The Tiger 9-2 (10-5) Tracked leaders, mistake 2nd, weakened before 2 out, 6th of 9, 24l behind Suit Yourself (10-12) at Carlisle 2m 1f (4) hvy in Dec.
