held up, in touch halfway, weakened 2 out
mid-division, mistake 4 out, soon weakened
held up, headway to chase leaders approaching 4 out, weakened 2 out
in touch, led last, stayed on
held up, headway 3 out, chased winner flat, kept on
led to 2nd, remained close up, every chance 4 out, no extra from 2 out
chased leaders, outpressed 3 out, stayed on from last
in rear, headway to go in touch when mistake 5th, weakened 4 out, pulled up before last
led 2nd, hit 8th, headed last, kept on
held up, always behind, raced wide, weakened 4 out, pulled up before next
Nicozetto won very easily here last time but might struggle to repeat the feat over this much shorter trip and we'll take COOLDINE LAD to score. Howard Johnson's gelding was a course and distance winner in similar conditions last time out and has to contend with a 6lb rise in the weights as a result. Even so, he stuck on well that day and may be able to find the necessary extra required to back it up given that he is effective over this short. Nicozetto, on the other hand, has never won over a trip as short as this under rules. He did win by a wide margin here last time, but that was over 3m 2f and it is hard to see why connections have decided to pitch him in here today even though he still looks well handicapped compared to his hurdles mark. Norminster is up 5lb for finishing runner-up to Duke Of Malfi at Hexham last month, and is now 16lbs higher than when scoring at that track a month earlier. Trip and ground suit but he does have the look of a horse held by the handicapper once more. In such a moderate race little else makes much appeal, though Silverdales, who was beaten when falling behind the selection on his chasing debut last time is certainly open to improvement. Cooldine Lad is taken to land the lucky last.
Farne Isle 10-1 (11-1) Held up, always behind, 10th of 12, 20l behind Kings Maiden (11-7) at Sedgefield 2m 4f mrs hcp hdl (4) sft in Nov.
Cooldine Lad (IRE) 7-1 (11-6) Held up, headway 5 out, ridden 2 out, hard driven to lead near line, won at Carlisle 2m hcp chs 0-90 (5) hvy in Nov beating Hollows Mill (11-12) by 3/4l, 8 ran.
Nicozetto (FR) 13-2 (10-0) Held up, smooth headway 14th, led 3 out, clear when blundered last, kept on well, won at Carlisle 3m 2f hcp chs 0-105 (4) hvy in Nov beating Hollows Mist (9-7) by 23l, 7 ran.
Norminster 9-2jt-fav (10-13) In touch, headway 4 out, effort between last 2, one pace flat, 2nd of 11, 2 1/2l behind Duke of Malfi (11-3) at Hexham 2m hcp chs 0-95 (5) hvy in Nov.
Gunadoir (IRE) 8-1 (10-11) Led, headed 7th, chased leaders, weakened 2 out, 7th of 12, 10l behind Kings Maiden (11-7) at Sedgefield 2m 4f mrs hcp hdl (4) sft in Nov.
Storm Surge (IRE) 10-1 (10-12) Held up, not fluent 1st or 2nd, tailed off 8th, 5th of 6, well behind The Good Guy (10-12) at Ludlow 2m 5f nov hdl (4) gd in May.
Mistral De La Cour (FR) 16-1 (10-1) Chased leaders, outpaced 4 out, kept on one pace from next, 3rd of 11, 19l behind Seek The Truth (10-10) at Carlisle 2m 5f hcp chs 0-95 (5) gs in Oct.
Moyne Pleasure (IRE) 25-1 (9-10) In rear, lost place 4th, soon well behind, 12th of 15, 28l behind Mischief Man (10-7) at Catterick 2m sll hcp hdl 0-95 (5) gd.
Bullies Acre (IRE) 40-1 (9-7) Made most to last, one pace run-in, 3rd of 15, 12l behind Boysterous (11-0) at Hexham 2m 4f sll hcp hdl 0-90 (5) hvy in Nov.
Silverdales 33-1 (10-2) Held up, ridden approaching 4 out, behind when fell at the last in race won by Cooldine Lad (11-6) at Carlisle 2m hcp chs 0-90 (5) hvy in Nov, 8 ran.
Whispering Moor 6-1 (10-3) In rear, pushed along approaching 11th, ridden approaching 3 out, weakened approaching 2 out, soon tailed off, 9th of 10, well behind Royal Mackintosh (11-10) at Carlisle 3m nov hcp chs 0-110 (4) gs in Apr.
