led, headed approaching 4 out, soon weakened
held up, headway to chase leaders approaching 4 out, led 2 out, headed towards finish
always towards rear, pulled up before 3 out, tailed off
chased leaders, led approaching 4 out, headed 2 out, weakened approaching last
held up, chased leaders after 4 out, weakened approaching next
chased leader, weakened from 3 out
chased leaders, reminders before 6th, weakened next, pulled up before 3 out, tailed off
towards rear, not fluent, never dangerous
struggling from 5th, tailed off when pulled up before next
in rear, weakened approaching 6th, tailed off
chased leaders, ridden 3 out, kept on to lead towards finish
mid-division, weakened approaching 6th, pulled up before 3 out, tailed off
held up and mistakes, never dangerous, pulled up before 3 out, tailed off
mid-division, ridden and weakened 4 out, soon pulled up
always behind, weakened approaching 6th, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out
A big field and Viking Rebel can land this at the expense of Simonside and Banoge. The selection was five lengths clear on debut and could have won by further. He can use this on a step up onto bigger things. Simonside would be of interest at bigger prices if able to reproduce some of his bumper efforts. Banoge can be anticipated to have come on for the first run of the season. There must have been something amiss when Calin Royal blobbed at Newcastle in 2006 and connections have taken their time to bring him back to the track. Quws Law has something to prove having struggled to justify favouritism in the past. Airforce is an interesting newcomer and is noted in the market. Silver By Nature has shaped as if he will have few problems over today's trip and is likely to adopt front-running tactics. He reopposes Skipping Chapel having met at Kelso last month. Carrick Dhu is perfectly capable of going close although isn't the heartiest of finishers. Long time maiden, Dantor, is at least capable of handling soft ground. Viking Rebel looks a horse on the upgrade and we seek not to oppose.
Silver By Nature 10-1 (11-0) Led, hit 4th, headed 3 out, rallied last, led close home, won at Kelso 2m mdn hdl (4) gs in Dec beating Victorbano (11-0) by 3/4l, 16 ran.
Viking Rebel (IRE) 10-11fav (10-12) Held up in touch, headway 4 out, led next, clear from 2 out, won at Ayr 2m 4f nov hdl (4) sft in Nov beating Etxalar (10-12) by 5l, 10 ran.
Airforce Cloudings gelding, half-brother to several winning jumpers.
Banoge (IRE) 16-1 (10-12) Held up mid-division, ridden and every chance 3 out until one pace last, 3rd of 15, 7l behind Hills Of Aran (11-5) at Carlisle 3m 1f nov hdl (4) gd in Nov.
Calin Royal (FR) 9-4 (11-13) Held up in touch, headway when mistake 4 out, lost action and pulled up before next pulled up 4 out in race won by Cash And New (11-6) at Newcastle 3m nov hdl (3) sft in Jan '06, 10 ran.
Carrick Dhu (IRE) 10-1 (10-11) Chased leaders, 5th 5 out, ridden before next and no extra, kept on one pace, 7th of 21, 26l behind Dan George (11-1) at Down Royal 2m 4f mdn hdl gs in Dec.
Dantor 20-1 (11-7) Mid-division when blundered and unseated rider at the 3rd in race won by Mensio (10-3) at Kelso 2m 6f nov hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gs in Dec, 14 ran.
Lord Samposin 200-1 (10-9) Behind, ridden and kept on from 3 out, never near leaders, 4th of 14, 33l behind Auroras Encore (10-7) at Sedgefield 2m 5f nh nov hdl (4) gs in Dec.
Meertrix (IRE) 33-1 (11-0) Mid-division, ridden after 6th, soon weakened, 8th of 16, 40l behind Moonhawk (10-9) at Carlisle 2m 1f mdn hdl (5) hvy in Nov.
Oh Yah Dancer (IRE) 15-2 (10-12) Held up towards rear, struggling from 8th, last of 10, well behind Rodrigo Gonzales (10-12) at Ayr 2m 4f nov hdl (4) sft in Nov.
Quws Law (IRE) 6-5fav (11-0) Led to 3 out, ridden when hit last, no extra, 3rd of 10, 4 1/2l behind Quicuyo (11-5) at Ayr 2m hdl (3) hvy in Dec.
Sammy Spiderman 100-1 (10-7) Held up towards rear, never dangerous, 9th of 10, 33l behind Quicuyo (11-5) at Ayr 2m hdl (3) hvy in Dec.
Simonside 10-3fav (11-8) Raced keenly, led, headed well over 2f out, weakened final furlong, 7th of 14, 11l behind Broomhill Flyer (10-13) at Uttoxeter 2m nhf (6) gd in Nov.
Skipping Chapel 80-1 (10-7) Towards rear, headway under pressure after 3 out, kept on same pace, 3rd of 16, 6l behind Silver By Nature (11-0) at Kelso 2m mdn hdl (4) gs in Dec.
Strong Command (IRE) 40-1 (10-12) Always towards rear, weakened from 7th, tailed off when pulled up at the last in race won by Oh Pickles (10-12) at Carlisle 2m 4f nh nov hdl (4) hvy in Nov, 14 ran.
Rowdy Exit (IRE) (11-7) unseated rider at the 2nd in race won by Eastern Surprise (11-7) at Templemore 3m ire ptp gd in Nov, 17 ran.
