held up towards rear, ridden and struggling before 2 out, left remote 3rd after last, lost 3rd place near finish
tracked leaders, led 2 out, ridden 1f out, stayed on well
led until after 2nd, pushed along and weakened from 10th, tailed off
held up mid-division, pushed along approaching 9th, soon struggling, took remote 3rd near finish
led after 2nd, headed 2 out, chased winner and stayed on 1f out, always held
held up mid-division, headway approaching 11th, hit 3 out, about 3 lengths down in 3rd when fell last
always behind, reminders after 8th, weakened from next, tailed off
Having been 2lb out of the handicap when successful at Sedgefield last week, Micky Hammond's ARCHIE'S WISH can race off just a 5lb higher mark under his penalty today and is hard to oppose in his attempt to follow up with the main danger rated as Peak Seasons. Michael Chapman's gelding showed improved form here last time but that was over shorter and he may not be as effective over the longer trip. The top weight Charming Knight has been well held in his last three starts and is readily discounted with a bigger threat likely to come from Sue Smith's Mischief Man, who is capable but inconsistent. You Can of Course, a winner at Plumpton in November, is another to consider but it is hard to get away from Archie's Wish.
Charming Knight (IRE) 12-1 (10-8) Intouch, ridden 13th, weakened and pulled up 3 out, in a race won by Twelve Paces (11-12) at Perth 3m hcp chs 0-110 (4) gf, 6 ran.
Hapthor 25-1 (11-4) Refused to race, in a race won by Archie's Wish (10-0) at Sedgefield 2m 4f nov hcp chs 0-95 (5) gd, 11 ran.
Mischief Man 8-1 (10-11) Chased leaders, bad mistake 8th, 6th when pulled up before 4 out, in a race won by Tully Hill (10-0) at Hexham 2m 4f hcp chs 0-100 (4) gs in Jun, 9 ran.
You Can of Course (IRE) 17-2 (11-6) Held up towards rear, reminders after 9th, soon struggling, tailed off when pulled up before 4 out, in a race won by Sam Cruise (11-6) at Worcester 2m 7f hcp chs 0-85 (5) gf in Jul, 16 ran.
Murphys Beau (IRE) 28-1 (10-11) Mid-division, pushed along approaching 9th, soon weakened, pulled up before 11th, in a race won by Ballynure (10-2) at Hexham 3m 1f hcp chs 0-95 (5) gf in Oct, 13 ran.
Peak Seasons (IRE) 9-2 (10-1) Chased leaders, lost place and ridden before 7th, rallied next, challenged after last, stayed on, just held, 2nd of 6, hd behind Colditz (10-1) at Cartmel 2m 1f hcp 0-90 (5) gd.
Archie's Wish 16-1 (10-0) In touch, ridden after 3 out, went 3rd last, chased leader on extended flat, led inside final furlong, stayed on well, won at Sedgefield 2m 4f nov hcp chs 0-95 (5) gd beating Pugnacity (10-5) by 3 1/2l, 11 ran.
Ellandshe (IRE) 40-1 (9-10) Prominent, ridden 3 out, weakened approaching last, 6th of 11, 33l behind Archie's Wish (10-0) at Sedgefield 2m 4f nov hcp chs 0-95 (5) gd.
