in rear and in touch, mistake 4th, weakened from 6th
tracked leaders, led before 4 out, clear from 2 out
tracked leader, led 4th, headed before 4 out, kept on and no impression
led to 4th, soon outpaced
in touch, outpaced from 5 out, kept on and no impression
NonRunner
BARABOY overcame early mistakes to score over the course and distance on heavy ground last month so a 4lb rise looks manageable and he can go in again. Casual Cavalier didn't appear to last out 2m4f at Newcastle after an earlier victory in a slightly better handicap than this at Kelso, when Sky Full Of Stars was behind, and Asuncion appeared to need every yard of 2m3f when scoring at Market Rasen and needs very testing conditions to show his best over this trip. Hi Dancer is now fourteen and though he's won thirteen times over hurdles he's still a maiden over fences.
Baraboy (IRE) 20-1 (11-12) Towards rear, headway before 4 out, ridden to chase leader before last, kept on to lead towards finish, won at Ayr 2m hcp (5) hvy in Dec beating Anitopia (10-6) by 1/2l, 7 ran.
Casual Cavalier (IRE) 5-1 (11-10) Chased winner until pushed along approaching 4 out, chased leading pair, left modest 2nd next until no extra and dropped to 3rd run-in, 3rd of 12, 10 1/4l behind Maxed Out King (11-4) at Newcastle 2m 4f hcp (4) sft in Dec.
Sky Full Of Stars (IRE) 12-1 (11-8) With winner, led 9 out, headed 7 out, in 2nd and fell 5 out, at Ayr 2m 4f hcp (5) sft in Dec.
Clan Chief 5-2fav (11-7) In touch, blundered 7 out, went 3rd 6 out, weakened from 3 out, pulled up, at Hexham 2m hcp (5) hvy in Dec.
Asuncion (FR) 14-1 (10-0) Tracked leader until 10th, tracked leaders, ridden 3 out, looked held approaching last, ran on strongly flat to lead near finish, won at Market Rasen 2m 3f hcp (4) sft in Dec beating Refused A Name (11-10) by 1l, 6 ran.
Hi Dancer 10-1 (11-0) With leader, led before 9th, headed before last, weakened and lost 3rd run-in, 4th of 9, 12 1/2l behind Spread Boy (10-3) at Sedgefield 2m hcp (5) sft in Nov.