mid-division, smooth headway 4 out, led 2f out, ridden and headed over 1f out, rider dropped whip inside final furlong, kept on, no chance with winner
led, ridden and headed 2f out, soon no impression
in touch, ridden and headway over 3f out, every chance over 2f out, weakened final furlong
chased leaders, ridden 6f out, weakened 4f out
mid-division, ridden over 3f out, never able to challenge
chased leaders, driven and lost place over 6f out, soon behind
with leader, ridden and every chance 3f out, weakened 2f out
keen early, never better than mid-division
mid-division, lost place over 6f out, soon behind
in touch, ridden 6f out, soon outpaced
The two previous winners in this closing National Hunt Flat Race will probably head the betting, with our pick being the course-and-distance winner According To Pete over Custom Design. The former, trained by Malcolm Jefferson, landed his victory here in eye-catching fashion when showing a good turn of foot to quickly stamp his authority on the race and go on to win by four lengths from Character Building. He gave every impression on that occasion that a further penalty could be overcome. Custom Design broke his duck on his latest and third start at Sedgefield, but he had to work pretty hard for that length-and-a-quarter success and does not appear the most obvious candidate to defy a penalty. Of the others, Opera Singer and Topwell could be the best. The former, trained by Richard Fahey, finished third on his debut at Stratford and its fair to assume he will improve for that, but he was beaten 14 lengths in a fairly weak race. Topwell would be a contender if coming back to his debut but he has been below that form on his two subsequent starts. The selection is According To Pete.
According To Pete 13-2 (11-6) Held up mid-division, effort and headway 3f out, led over 1f out, soon clear, won at Catterick 2m nhf (H) gd in Nov beating Character Building (11-4) by 4l, 16 ran.
Custom Design 12-1 (11-4) Made all, ridden 3f out, held on gamely final furlong, won at Sedgefield 2m 1f nhf (H) sft in Nov beating Sabreflight (10-11) by 1 1/2l, 11 ran.
Aldea (FR) Pistolet Bleu gelding out a maiden racemare.
Boulders Beach (IRE) 25-1 (10-11) Close up on outside, headway to challenge over 4f out, soon ridden, weakened over 1f out, 5th of 14, 19l behind Supreme's Legacy (11-4) at Wetherby 2m nhf (H) sft in Nov.
Kerrs Whin 10-1 (11-1) Held up, headway under pressure 6f out, weakened over 2f out, 7th of 17, 32l behind Buena Vista (10-2) at Doncaster 2m mdn nhf (H) gd in Jan.
Opera Singer 2-1 (11-1) Raced keenly, chased leaders, ridden 4f out, weakened over 1f out, 3rd of 7, 14l behind Finns Cross (11-4) at Stratford 2m nhf (H) gd in Sept.
Topwell 14-1 (10-8) Raced wide and towards rear, headway over 7f out, ridden and outpaced over 3f out, soon weakened, 7th of 11, well behind Custom Design (11-4) at Sedgefield 2m 1f nhf (H) sft in Nov.
Geraldine 28-1 (10-6) Chased leaders, one pace final furlong, 3rd of 12, 2l behind Not For Diamonds (10-9) at Market Rasen 2m 1f mdn nhf (H) gd in Oct.
