led, clear 3rd, joined 2 out, headed before hit last, chased winner and one pace run-in
tracked leading pair, tracked leader 4th, ridden and lost 2nd before 2 out, weakened before last, lost modest 4th towards finish
tracked leaders, went 3rd 5th until before 3 out, no extra next
held up off the pace in 6th, struggling in rear after 6th, tailed off
chased leader until 4th, lost place next, never on terms after, pluggd on into modest 4th towards finish
held up in rear, headway approaching 3 out, went well held 3rd approaching last, driven and one pace run-in, no chance with leading duo
held up 5th, went left 3rd, reminder after 4th, headway next, challenge don outside in 3rd approaching 3 out, 2nd before next, upsides 2 out, led before last, just doing enough run-in but kept on well
Shear Rock is still improving and should make a bold bid to land the four-timer. But John Ferguson has wasted no time in putting the three-year-old HADFIELD into handicaps after he lost his unbeaten record at Perth. With his weight-for-age allowance, he is getting 18lb from the top weight and that could prove crucial. Quick Brew finally got off the mark at Hexham earlier this month but has already had a run over fences and that is where his future lies. Kelso second Cooking Fat looks a better bet than stablemate Boruma and Bigindie as well as the disappointing Lochalsh.
Shear Rock (IRE) 5-6fav (11-8) Raced freely, led and soon clear, not fluent 5th, reduced lead 3 out, ridden and headed when not fluent 2 out, rallied from last, led flat, drew clear towards finish, won at Fontwell 2m 2f hcp (3) gd in Oct beating Disputed (11-12) by 5l, 5 ran.
Quick Brew 5-2fav (11-0) Held up mid-division, headway 3rd, went 2nd 3 out, led after 2 out, ridden run-in, kept on, won at Hexham 2m mdn (5) gd in Oct beating Nuts Well (11-0) by 9l, 9 ran.
Cooking Fat 12-1 (11-5) Held up mid-division, headway 3 out, went 2nd before 2 out, kept on and no impression, 2nd of 8, 6l behind Hello George (11-5) at Kelso 2m 5f (4) gf in Oct.
Lochalsh (IRE) 12-1 (11-11) Mid-division, pushed along before 4 out, weakened from 3 out, 8th of 13, dist behind Honey Pound (11-10) at Newton Abbot 2m 2f hcp (4) gs in Aug.
Bigindie (IRE) 9-2 (10-13) Tracked leader, ridden before 2 out, kept on to take 3rd place towards finish, 3rd of 5, 7 1/4l behind Serenity Now (10-10) at Towcester 2m hcp (3) gf in Oct.
Boruma (IRE) 14-1 (11-2) Led, headed 4 out, weakened from 3 out, 6th of 7, 31 3/4l behind Ruaraidh Hugh (10-11) at Market Rasen 2m 5f hcp (4) gd in Jun.
Hadfield (IRE) 5-4fav (11-5) Chased leaders, mistake 3 out, every chance when not fluent next, no impression on winner flat, stayed on same pace, 2nd of 10, 6l behind Persiflage (10-5) at Perth 2m (4) gs in Sep.
