tracked leader, weakened approaching 3 out, left remote 2nd 2 out
held up in rear, headway approaching 3 out, left remote 3rd 2 out, took 2nd approaching last, no chance with winner
tracked leaders, mistake 4 out, soon weakened, pulled up before next
held up, effort 5 out, soon weakened
always behind
held up, outpaced 6th, stayed on from 3 out, never dangerous
held up, headway to chase leaders 5 out, led approaching 3 out, fell next
held up, reminders halfway, tailed off when pulled up before 5 out
tracked leaders, weakened after 6th, pulled up after next
tracked leaders, ridden after 3 out, left briefly in lead 2 out, soon hampered and unseated rider
Corrib Lad can outgun Dolans Bay, with Welsh Dream, Speedro and Leprechaun's Mate likely to figure. Corrib Lad is starting to make a name for himself over fences, having won twice so far, on the latest occasion gaining a hard-fought win under Keith Mercer on very heavy ground at Carlisle. However, he is better treated over hurdles, and as that last race may have taken a bit out of him, it is probably a wise move by his trainer to run in this. Dolans Bay returned from an absence to open his handicap account at Carlisle last time and there may be more to come from him, while of the remainder, Welsh Dream has topweight and Speedro is destined to go over fences, although he will like the step up in trip judged by the way that he stayed on for third at Kelso. Leprechaun's Mate is the youngest in the line-up and appears to be going the right way, but we return to Corrib Lad as the answer.
Welsh Dream 8-1 (10-3) Tracked leader, ridden after 3 out, weakened next, 5th of 9, 20l behind Spring Breeze (11-8) at Sedgefield 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-125 (3) gd in Nov.
Nero West (FR) 50-1 (10-8) Held up rear, headway 6th, weakened 3 out, 7th of 12, 36l behind Carew Lad (11-2) at Chepstow 3m hcp hdl 0-115 (4) hvy in Mar.
Corrib Lad (IRE) 2-1fav (11-12) In touch, headway 10th, challenged 3 out, soon ridden, led run-in, all out, won at Carlisle 2m 4f hcp chs 0-105 (4) hvy in Nov beating The Miner (10-7) by a nk, 9 ran.
Crackleando 8-1 (10-13) Mid-division, lost place and ridden 10th, beaten from next, 7th of 11, 18l behind Noir Et Vert (11-9) at Musselburgh 3m cnd hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gd in Nov.
Speedro (IRE) 50-1 (11-7) Held up in rear, pushed along 4 out, headway under pressure between last 2, kept on same pace, 3rd of 15, 11l behind Monsieur (11-12) at Kelso 2m 2f nov hcp hdl 0-95 (5) gd in Oct.
Kempski 15-2 (10-11) Chased leaders, ridden outpaced 4 out, soon beaten, 6th of 16, well behind Witch Wind (11-0) at Kelso 2m 6f nov hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gs.
Leprechaun's Maite 100-1 (10-9) In touch, led 6th, clear 3 out, headed post, 2nd of 17, shd behind Windygate (10-12) at Kelso 2m 2f amt hcp hdl (5) gs.
Dolans Bay (IRE) 9-1 (10-3) Held up, headway approaching 2 out, hung left and led run-in, all out, won at Carlisle 2m 4f nov hcp hdl 0-100 (4) sft in Nov beating Parkinson (10-10) by 1/2l, 11 ran.
