prominent, lost place 5 out
chased leaders, led approaching 3 out, headed approaching and mistake 2 out, weakened approaching last
held up, mistake 4 out when weakening
held up, chased leaders approaching 7th, blundered next, led approaching 2 out, ridden approaching last, kept on well
led, headed approaching 3 out, ridden approaching 2 out, no extra flat
tracked leaders, went 2nd approaching last until one pace flat
held up mid-division, headway approaching 3 out, kept on from last
chased leaders, prominent when blundered 5th, weakened from 3 out, fell last
tracked leader, outpaced approaching 4 out, stayed on from last, went 2nd flat
held up, ridden after 4 out, no impression
held up in touch, weakened 5 out
always towards rear
held up towards rear, ridden approaching 3 out, never dangerous, pulled up before last
in rear, stayed on from 2 out
held up, not fluent 2nd, pushed along 6th, never dangerous after, pulled up before 2 out
BLACKS BRIDGE is narrowly preferred here to Sir Ian, I'm Your Man and Storm Surge in a very competitive handicap chase. Howard Johnson's horses are generally in good form and this gelding shaped with much more promise on his chasing debut at Musselburgh last month. He races off a mark of 99 today which looks manageable, especially as he was fourth to On Raglan Road between the flags back in Ireland. Sir Ian travels a fair way for this second chase start and if he settles better then he should run a big race, as should Tranos who edges down the weights and takes on easier opposition. I'm Your Man has been kept busy of late, and this front-runner has claims returned to fences, whilst Storm Surge was well-fancied on his comeback run at Sedgefield but he fell before the race had really started to hot-up. Cordier was second to Carrietau in that race and is evidently in good form at present but he has a 4lb rise in the weights to contend with, More Like It is starting to look nicely handicapped for a course and distance winner, whilst Blast The Past has a big weight to carry on ground likely to be more testing than when second at Southwell last time out. An open heat, where the tentative vote is given to Blacks Bridge.
Blast The Past 6-1 (11-5) Close up, went 2nd and slightly hampered 3rd, led 5th, pecked and headed 3 out, no impression when hung left after 2 out, 2nd of 5, 4l behind Cortinas (11-10) at Southwell 2m hcp chs 0-115 (4) gf in Nov.
Ormus 16-1 (11-12) Held up towards rear, hampered 5th, headway next, weakening when blundered 2 out, 9th of 11, 39l behind Carrietau (11-1) at Sedgefield 2m hcp chs 0-110 (4) sft in Nov.
Tranos (USA) 10-1 (10-10) With leader, led 5th, headed next, ridden 5 out, soon lost place, 5th of 6, 34l behind Lease Lend (11-12) at Newcastle 2m hcp chs 0-115 (4) gs in Nov.
Blacks Bridge (IRE) 14-1 (11-11) Held up mid-division, chased leaders approaching 4 out, weakened approaching next, 4th of 13, 19l behind Dar Es Salaam (11-6) at Musselburgh 2m 4f nov hcp chs 0-105 (4) gs in Nov.
Sir Ian (IRE) 9-2 (11-4) Mistake 1st, led and soon clear, reduced lead 11th, headed next, weakened 3 out, 7th of 10, 35l behind Like A Duke (11-12) at Warwick 2m 4f hcp chs 0-110 (4) gd in Nov.
I'm Your Man 14-1 (10-6) Led, headed approaching 6th, one pace from 2 out, 5th of 13, 15l behind Ballabrook (10-5) at Catterick 2m 3f con hcp hdl 0-110 3yo+ (4) gs.
Storm Surge (IRE) 10-3 (11-3) Chased leaders, disputing 2nd when fell 5th, in a race won by Carrietau (11-1) at Sedgefield 2m hcp chs 0-110 (4) sft in Nov, 11 ran.
Cordier 9-1 (10-12) Chased leaders, blundered 4th, chased winner who was clear 7th, closed when not fluent 3 out, every chance last, edged left flat, no extra towards finish, 2nd of 11, 3 1/2l behind Carrietau (11-1) at Sedgefield 2m hcp chs 0-110 (4) sft in Nov.
More Like It (IRE) 6-1 (11-8) Mistakes, always behind, 7th of 8, 24l behind Red Jester (11-3) at Warwick 2m hcp chs 0-105 (4) gd in Nov.
Braddock Island 8-1 (11-5) Led until fell 10th, in a race won by Dar Es Salaam (11-6) at Musselburgh 2m 4f nov hcp chs 0-105 (4) gs in Nov, 13 ran.
Frith (IRE) 8-1 (10-7) Held up, blundered 5 out, weakened 3 out, 4th of 6, 31l behind Duke of Malfi (10-11) at Ayr 2m hcp chs 0-105 (4) sft.
Watch The Wind 18-1 (10-0) Held up towards rear, hampered 5th, headway 4 out, weakened approaching last, 5th of 11, 18l behind Carrietau (11-1) at Sedgefield 2m hcp chs 0-110 (4) sft in Nov.
New Wish (IRE) 25-1 (9-11) Held up towards rear, hampered 2 out, never dangerous, 7th of 11, 31l behind Carrietau (11-1) at Sedgefield 2m hcp chs 0-110 (4) sft in Nov.
Barton Sun (IRE) 8-1 (10-0) Held up in rear, hampered 5th, headway approaching 2 out, 4th and weakening when blundered last, 4th of 11, 18l behind Carrietau (11-1) at Sedgefield 2m hcp chs 0-110 (4) sft in Nov.
Crofton Arch 80-1 (10-0) Led 4th, pushed along and dropped rear 6th, no danger after, 6th of 7, 30l behind Trafalgar Man (10-5) at Hexham 2m hcp chs 0-115 (4) gd in Jun.
