held up, towards rear, pushed along approaching 6th, in touch when fell 5 out
chased leader to 2nd, reminders to regain 2nd at 3rd, led approaching 4th, headed next, led again approaching 5 out, headed approaching 4 out, soon weakened
held up, in rear, good headway to track leaders approaching 4 out, challenged 3 out, weakened after 2 out
tracked leader after 2nd until 3rd, led approaching 4 out, headed 2 out, weakened approaching last
held up, headway 4 out, hit 2 out, ridden to chase winner last, no impression
tracked leaders, led 2 out, clear approaching last
led until approaching 4th, led again 5th, headed approaching 5 out, quickly weakened, tailed off
Nonrunner
Nonrunner
Jim Goldie's Stormin Exit has gone up 5lbs for his win at Newcastle last month which looks a shade harsh and, while he has to be considered, this looks likely to go to one of Ferdy Murphy's two runners with CHARINGWORTH preferred to Le Roi Rouge. The last mentioned got up late on when successful at Wetherby last time in December under testing conditions but a 7lb rise and the faster surface today will be a worry for the eight-year-old who has shown his best form on heavy ground. Alison Hamilton's Fred Bojangals won well at Musselburgh in November but struggled off the same mark that he races off today on a return visit to the venue last month and he probably needs some help from the handicapper. Lucinda Russell's Et Maintenant ran below par on soft ground at Cheltenham last time and may do better on the ground today, while Tartan Snow is hard to recommend on recent form. The selection then is Ferdy Murphy's Charingworth, who got no further than the first fence when unseating his rider at Kelso last time in November but his earlier form when winning at Sedgefield is solid and he looks worth backing to resume winning ways.
Le Roi Rouge (FR) 5-1 (11-3) Held up in touch, headway from 3 out, stayed on to lead towards finish, won at Wetherby 2m hcp chs 0-135 (3) hvy in Dec beating Babe Heffron (10-10) by 1 1/4l, 8 ran.
Camden George (IRE) 12-1 (11-12) Chased leaders, mistake 7th, weakened from 5 out, 5th of 8, 31l behind Bleak House (11-7) at Doncaster 2m hcp chs 0-130 (3) gs in Jan.
Charingworth (IRE) 6-4fav (10-9) Held up when blundered and unseated rider 1st, in a race won by Bay Cherry (10-13) at Kelso 2m 6f nov hcp chs 0-125 (3) hvy in Nov, 7 ran.
Et Maintenant (FR) 11-1 (10-13) Chased leaders, outpaced 4 out, soon ridden, weakened after next, 8th of 17, 30l behind Sound Stage (10-3) at Cheltenham 2m 5f cond hcp chs (4yo+) (3) sft in Dec.
Stormin Exit (IRE) 7-1 (10-8) Mid division, headway to lead 5th, headed 9th, led again next, hard pressed last, ridden and stayed on gamely flat, won at Newcastle 2m 4f hcp chs 0-125 (3) hvy in Jan beating Jack The Blaster (11-11) by nk, 10 ran.
Fred Bojangals (IRE) 10-1 (11-6) Prominent, led 7th, headed 10th, soon driven, rallied approaching 2 out, kept on, 3rd of 12, 12l behind Quito Du Tresor (11-9) at Musselburgh 2m 4f hcp ch 0-110 (4) gd in Jan.
Storm Surge (IRE) 15-2 (11-4) Held up mid-division, headway approaching 3 out, kept on from last, 4th of 15, 5l behind Blacks Bridge (11-6) at Catterick 2m hcp chs 0-105 (4) gs in Dec.
Polar Gunner 40-1 (11-7) Mid-division, outpaced 4 out, never dangerous, 8th of 13, 24l behind Noun De La Thinte (10-5) at Southwell 2m 4f hcp chs 0-130 (3) gs in Jan.
Nelson du Ronceray (FR) 13-2 (11-5) Held up mid-division, headway and in touch 4th, effort 3 out, soon ridden, no impression from next, 6th of 11, 18l behind Grandad Bill (11-5) at Newcastle 2m hcp hdl 0-115 (4) hvy in Jan.
Tartan Snow 20-1 (10-13) Held up, jumped slow 6th, ridden after next, soon outpaced, went moderate 3rd approaching 2 out, no impression, 3rd of 5, 12l behind Bedlam Boy (11-5) at Ayr 2m nov chs (3) sft in Dec.
