in touch, hit 6th, outpaced 3 out, soon ridden, stayed on strongly flat, held near finish
held up on outside, headway 3 out, effort next, one pace approaching last
chased leaders, outpaced approaching 3 out, rallied to lead between last 2, ridden and edged right last, just held on
held up, outpaced 4 out, never on terms
chased leaders, led 4 out, headed when hit 2 out, soon one pace
led to 4 out, ridden next, rallied between last two, stayed on well flat, just held
held up, effort and in touch 3 out, no extra from next
tracked leader, led 2 out, soon headed, weakened last
Frith ran much better when beaten just a short head by Cantgeton at Kelso last month and he has solid claims on that evidence racing off just a 1lb higher mark today but Sue Smith has her team in great form now and preference is for WEE GEORGE, who is preferred to stable companion Work Boy. The last mentioned is less exposed than most of his rivals after just five career starts but he does need to improve on all known form to trouble the judge and he looks the lesser fancied of the two Smith runners with a young conditional taking the ride. Norminster has run well off a similar mark in his last two starts under heavy ground over course and distance and he should again be thereabouts under similarly testing conditions. Lucinda Russell's Duke of Malfi has disappointed since landing a handicap at Hexham in November and now looks best left out of calculations, while Moyne Pleasure has shown little worthwhile form of late. Bullies Acre faces no easy task from 4lbs out of the handicap and preference is for Wee George. Sue Smith's gelding ran much better here earlier this month and despite having been raised 7lbs since that outing, he looks worth chancing given the form of the yard's runners.
Work Boy 20-1 (10-12) In rear, ridden and weakened after 4 out, 4th of 5, 18l behind Banoge (10-9) at Carlisle 2m nov chs (4) hvy.
Frith (IRE) 13-2 (9-8) Held up in touch, ridden and lost place 3 out, driven and rallied flat, just failed, 2nd of 6, shd behind Cantgeton (11-4) at Kelso 2m 1f hcp chs 0-115 (4) sft in Feb.
Norminster 15-2 (11-4) Chased leaders, outpaced 5 out, kept on from 2 out, 2nd of 12, 5l behind Bamby (10-13) at Carlisle 2m hcp chs 0-100 (4) hvy.
Duke of Malfi 11-1 (11-4) Led to 3rd, chased leaders, ridden 4 out, weakened from next, 9th of 12, well behind Bamby (10-13) at Carlisle 2m hcp chs 0-100 (4) hvy.
Astyanax (IRE) 100-1 (11-5) Held up, ridden 7th, tailed off from 3 out and pulled up 2 out in race won by Capybara (10-13) at Catterick 3m 1f hcp hdl 0-100 (4) gs in Feb, 17 ran.
Wee George 14-1 (10-11) Chased leader, ridden approaching 4 out, soon outpaced, left 8 lengths down in 3rd last, 3rd of 7, 15l behind La Pantera Rosa (11-0) at Carlisle 2m 5f beg chs (4) hvy.
Moyne Pleasure (IRE) 100-1 (11-0) Always towards rear, 10th of 12, well behind Auroras Encore (11-0) at Sedgefield 2m 4f beg chs (4) sft in Dec.
Bullies Acre (IRE) 11-1 (10-0) In touch, led 3rd, ridden and headed between last 2, soon weakened, 4th of 7, well behind Neidpath Castle (10-5) at Hexham 2m 4f hcp chs 0-95 (5).
