chased leaders, headway before 10th and raced close up, led 4 out, headed over 3 out, weakened from under 2 out
led, headed 4 out, weakened from under 3 out
close up, stumbled on landing 12th, pushed along and lost ground after 15th, left behind over 3 out
held up in rear, headway 13th, closed into 2nd going well under 4 out, led over 3 out, went clear under 2 out, reduced lead approaching last, ridden and headed flat, no extra close home
held up, pushed along under 4 out and soon pulled up
mid-division, lost ground after 9th, dropped to last before 12th, pulled up after 14th
mid-division, closer after 5th, pushed along under 4 out, outpaced 3 out, ran on well from before last and took 3rd flat, nearest finish
chased leaders on outer, lost ground 12th, lost touch after 15th and pulled up after 4 out
chased leaders, pushed along in 3rd over 3 out, headway over 2 out, closed before last, switched right and ran on well to lead flat, went clear closing stages
Few make any appeal and Catlin’s only rival bled from the nose when Nick Kent’s charge came out best in a match at Newcastle. SPOT ON SOPH is preferred as she scored over a shorter trip here on only her second start over fences and there looks more to come from Sam England’s mare over the larger obstacles. Tumbling Dice was still beaten a long way when third at Newcastle while Chase The Wind finished a distant second at Wetherby in November.
Path To Freedom (IRE) 12-1 (11-4) Mid-division, closed 4th, struggling after 4 out, 5th of 12, 27 1/4l behind Spot On Soph (10-0) at Catterick 2m 3f hcp (5) gs in Dec.
Chase The Wind (IRE) 16-1 (11-7) Led, headed 13th, tracked leaders, ridden 3 out, kept on same pace, 4th of 10, 16 1/2l behind Light Flicker (11-9) at Market Rasen 3m hcp (5) sft in Dec.
Catlin 8-11fav (11-12) Led, not fluent 3 out, pushed along before 2 out, eight lengths clear last, kept on run in, won at Newcastle 2m 7f hcp (4) gd in Nov beating Bobbie The Dazzler (10-7) by 5 1/2l, 2 ran.
Spot On Soph (IRE) 4-1fav (10-0) Held up towards rear, headway after 4 out, went 5 lengths 2nd 2 out, led last, stayed on well flat, won at Catterick 2m 3f hcp (5) gs in Dec beating Melanamix (11-0) by 2 3/4l, 12 ran.
Whitechurch (IRE) 8-1 (10-8) Prominent on inside, blundered and unseated rider 3rd, at Catterick 2m 3f hcp (5) gs in Dec.
The Very Thing (IRE) 20-1 (10-0) Jumped slow in rear, left poor 5th 2 out, 5th of 10, dist behind Ladronne (11-12) at Wetherby 2m 3f hcp (5) gs in Dec.
Hidden Cargo (IRE) 12-1 (10-2) Tracked leader, ridden and outpaced home turn, weakened last, 5th of 8, 26 3/4l behind Deep Charm (11-12) at Hexham 3m hcp (5) hvy in Dec.
Iskabeg Lane (IRE) 16-1 (10-1) Held up, ridden and outpaced before 3 out, pulled up, at Hexham 2m 4f hcp (5) hvy in Dec.
Tumbling Dice 11-10fav (10-3) Close up, mistake 1st, asked for effort 3 out, not fluent 2 out, mistake last, no extra run-in, 3rd of 4, 15 1/2l behind Gun Merchant (11-6) at Newcastle 2m 7f hcp (5) gd in Nov.
Choctaw Brave (IRE) 14-1 (10-0) Held up in touch, nudged along before 4 out, went third 2 out, made no impression, 3rd of 4, 24l behind Bavington Bob (11-12) at Newcastle 2m 7f hcp (4) gd in Dec.
