tracked leaders, ridden and weakened 11th
close up, ridden 9th, weakened 11th, pulled up before 5 out
in rear, jumped slowly 7th, behind 5 out, kept on to go remote 3rd
mid-division, headway approaching 5 out, went 3rd 4 out, jumped right next 2 fences, pulled up last
tracked leaders, blundered 6th, weakened 11th
tracked leader, led 5th, headed 8th, led again next, ridden out
in rear, headway 11th, ridden to chase winner 4 out, kept on flat
held up in rear, never on terms
held up, headway 9th, went 3rd next, ridden 4 out, gradually weakened
led, headed 5th, led again 8th, headed next, chased winner until ridden 4 out, gradually weakened
This will be a close enough call between YANKEE HOLIDAY and Manoubi, who have both hit form of late, and preference is just for the former, while Something Silver and Panthers Run are respected. Sue Bradburne trains the selection, who had over four lengths to spare on Manoubi when giving him 3lbs and a beating here over 2m 4f last time. With Manoubi having come out and won at Hexham since then, his penalty means that he is now 2lbs worse off with the selection, and as both go on the ground there is no reason to think that the order will be any different. Something Silver has not won since doing so here over two years ago and he now races from 5lbs below that winning mark. He stays this far and acts on the ground, but he just keeps finding one or two too good. Panthers Run is 6lbs higher than when winning over 2m 1f at Hexham in October and probably stays this far. Conditions are fine for him, but his profile suggests that minor money is the most likely outcome for him. Snowy is nicely handicapped again, has good course form, and stays further, so support for him would be interesting, though Yankee Holiday is preferred.
Phone In 7-1 (11-7) Held up towards rear, headway to chase leading pair approaching 3rd, went 2nd 8th until ridden after 9th, weakened approaching 3 out, 6th of 7, 32l behind Orchard King (11-6) at Huntingdon 3m 2f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gf in Oct.
Snowy (IRE) 20-1 (10-8) Led to 3 out, weakened next, 5th of 9, 18l behind Categorical (11-2) at Ayr 3m 1f hcp chs 0-125 (3) gf.
Benny The Piler (IRE) 40-1 (11-0) Held up mid-division, pushed along and weakened approaching 8th, tailed off 3 out, pulled after 2 out, in a race won by Quay Meadow (10-2) at Catterick 3m 1f hcp hdl 0-100 (4) gs, 14 ran.
Play The Rock (FR) 4-1 (11-3) Held up in touch, not fluent 6th, ridden 4 out, weakened approaching 2 out, 5th of 7, 26l behind Porta Vogie (11-6) at Huntingdon 2m 4f hcp chs 0-105 (4) gs.
Yankee Holiday (IRE) 9-2 (10-13) With leader, led 11th, clear approaching 4 out, won at Ayr 2m 4f hcp ch 0-95 (5) gf beating Manoubi (10-10) by 4 1/2l, 7 ran.
Something Silver 7-1 (10-10) Led, headed approaching 7th, regained lead approaching 3 out, soon headed, kept on same pace from last, 3rd of 10, 8l behind Diavoleria (11-7) at Ayr 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gf.
Manoubi 4-1 (10-12) Mid-division, headway from 5 out, led last, kept on well, won at Hexham 2m 4f hcp chs 0-95 (5) gd beating Tully Hill (9-11) by 2 1/4l, 11 ran.
Panthers Run 10-1 (10-8) Held up towards rear, headway approaching 6th, ridden and kept on same pace from 3 out, 4th of 8, 4 1/2l behind Bene Lad (10-7) at Carlisle 2m hcp chs 0-100 (4) gd.
Skipping Chapel 100-1 (10-12) Chased leading pair until lost place and dropped to rear before 6th, outpaced when blundered 4 out, soon weakened, last of 5, 50l behind Bedlam Boy (11-6) at Kelso 2m 1f nov chs (2) sft.
Crofton Arch 22-1 (10-1) Held up in rear, under pressure 6th, soon beaten, 4th of 5, 25l behind The Kealshore Kid (11-7) at Sedgefield 2m hcp chs 0-95 (5) gd.
