tracked leaders in 3rd, pushed along 5 out, weakened before 3 out, pulled up
held up towards rear, pushed along before 6 out, soon weakened, pulled up
tracked leaders, outpaced before 4 out, headway before 2 out, ridden to lead run-in, no extra and headed towards finish
with leader, led from 4th, soon clear until 4 out, headed before 2 out, soon weakened
prominent, went 2nd before 6 out, weakened before 2 out
mid-division, headway before 4 out, led before 2 out, headed run-in, rallied and kept on to regain lead towards finish
in rear, headway before 6 out, every chance from 3 out, weakened before last
towards rear, headway before 4 out, ridden before last, no extra
Placed in his last three starts, Arctic Vodka wouldn’t be winning out of turn and is rated 3lb higher than Ardean Lass, though Stuart Crawford’s seven-year-old has a mares’ allowance in her favour and it was an improved effort here last time. SWEET AS CANDY was a real eye-catcher on his hurdling debut at Newcastle last month, only weakening at the last having been prominent throughout. A winner over 3m between the flags, he won’t be far away here if handling the heavy ground. Mankala looks held on the form book but Behindthelines is probably capable of better while Hangard won a bumper here in October.
Arctic Vodka 10-1 (11-12) With leader, led before 2 out, headed run-in, kept on, 2nd of 12, 1 1/2l behind Trongate (11-2) at Ayr 2m 3f hcp (4) hvy in Dec.
Bafana Blue 22-1 (10-12) In rear and in touch, reminders before 5 out, weakened from 3 out, last of 5, 31 1/2l behind Quick Pick (10-12) at Sedgefield 2m 4f (4) sft in Dec.
Behindthelines (IRE) 8-1 (11-2) Raced keenly, tracked leader, led 4th until pushed along and lost 2nd before 2 out, plugged on in well held 3rd, no impression, 3rd of 10, 13 3/4l behind Coole Hall (11-12) at Kelso 2m 7f (4) sft in Jan.
Hangard 13-2 (11-12) Led, ridden and headed over 2f out, weakened over 1f out, 4th of 9, 23l behind Idee De Garde (11-5) at Ayr 2m (5) hvy in Jan.
Hardrock Davis (FR) 5-1 (11-0) Mid-division, shaken up in 5th after 3 out, no headway, 5th of 8, 26 3/4l behind Fattsota (11-6) at Southwell 2m (4) gd in Mar.
Mankala (IRE) 5-1 (10-12) Mid-division, headway after 4 out, chased leaders next, no extra approaching last, 5th of 15, 8 1/4l behind The Great Getaway (10-12) at Newcastle 2m 5f (4) sft in Dec.
Sweet As Candy (IRE) 16-1 (10-12) Chased leaders, every chance after 3 out, weakened last, 4th of 15, 3 1/4l behind The Great Getaway (10-12) at Newcastle 2m 5f (4) sft in Dec.
Ardean Lass (IRE) 11-4 (10-13) Towards rear and in touch, ridden before 2 out, every chance last, kept on and held towards finish, 2nd of 8, 1 3/4l behind Caventara (11-6) at Ayr 2m 4f mdn (5) hvy in Jan.
Crawfords Mill (IRE) 40-1 (11-7) Tracked leaders on inner, ridden in 6th 3 out, no impression, 14th of 25, 28 3/4l behind A Hardy Nailer (11-7) at Navan 2m 4f mdn sft in Dec.