in rear, headway 5 out, went 3rd before 4 out, kept on towards finish
close up, looking held when fell 5 out
mid-division, lost place 12th, pulled up before 5 out
led to 6th led again 8th, headed 4 out, kept on from last
towards rear, went 4th before 9th, no extra run-in
chased leaders, led 6th, headed 8th, led 4 out, clear from 2 out
in touch, pushed along and outpaced from 10th, kept on strongly from last, went 2nd towards finish, no chance with winner
Nonrunner
Alfred Oats has been difficult to train but ran his best race so far at Hexham last time. Cobajayisland won at Hexham in October and was second at Musselburgh on his latest start. He looks the pick of his trainer's two runners while Silverton has a chance at the weights. Have You Had Yours started favourite for a three-runner race at Wetherby last time after a close second over this course and distance but disappointed and might be high enough in the weights at present. ROYAL MCNAB will probably take all the beating in this if he reproduces his run at Wetherby last Saturday under a penalty as this looks a weaker contest.
Prosecco (IRE) 14-1 (11-5) Always in rear and not fluent, lost place before 9th, pulled up before 3 out, in a race won by Categorical (11-10) at Newcastle 2m 4f hcp chs 0-120 (4) sft in Nov, 5 ran.
Cobajayisland (IRE) 6-1 (10-13) Keen close up, led 4th until 7th, prominent, every chance from 4 out, hampered flat, stayed on, 2nd of 9, 6l behind Bearly Legal (10-9) at Musselburgh 2m 4f nov hcp chs 0-120 (4) gd in Nov.
Redpender (IRE) 13-2 (10-4) Towards rear, headway before 3 out, soon ridden, no impression, 5th of 7, 26l behind Saints And Sinners (11-3) at Wetherby 2m 4f nov hcp chs 0-125 (3) sft in Dec.
Royal Macnab (IRE) 7-1 (10-13) Led to 4th, remained prominent, led again after 5 out, clear when not fluent 2 out, ridden out flat, won at Wetherby 2m 4f nov hcp chs 0-105 (4) sft in Dec beating Be A Dreamer (10-2) by 15l, 6 ran.
Have You Had Yours (IRE) Evensfav (11-2) Tracked leader, mistake 5 out, under pressure 3 out, weakening when mistake 2 out, modest 2nd, 2nd of 3, 27l behind Steel Summit (11-12) at Wetherby 2m 4f hcp chs 0-105 (4) sft in Nov.
Silverton 9-2 (11-2) With leader, led 5 out, headed 4 out, ridden after 2 out, weakened before last, 4th of 9, 6l behind Uno Valoroso (10-6) at Hexham 2m nov hcp chs 0-105 (4) hvy in Nov.
Alfred Oats 20-1 (10-10) Tracked leaders, in 5th 3 out, went 4th after 2 out, went 2nd run-in, no chance with winner, 2nd of 9, 3 1/2l behind Uno Valoroso (10-6) at Hexham 2m nov hcp chs 0-105 (4) hvy in Nov.
The Flaming Matron (IRE) 18-1 (11-1) Tracked leaders, ridden 9th, soon lost touch, behind when pulled up 3 out, in a race won by Romany Ryme (11-7) at Carlisle 2m 4f hcp chs 0-105 (4) hvy in Dec, 8 ran.