chased leaders, lost place 6th, soon tailed off
mid-division, headway 6th, weakened after 4 out
held up in touch, chased leaders approaching 3 out, one pace
struggling from halfway, pulled up before 6th
mid-division, ridden approaching 2 out, no impression
led to 2nd, held up in touch, weakened after 3 out
led 2nd, headed approaching 6th, every chance when carried badly right from last, just held, awarded race
held up mid-division, headway to chase leaders 3 out, one pace from next
mid-division, one pace from 3 out
held up towards rear, blundered 3 out, some headway, soon weakened
held up mid-division, driven 3 out, one pace
held up mid-division, lost place from 3 out
chased leaders, kept on from 2 out
in rear, struggling halfway, some late headway from 2 out, never dangerous
chased leaders, led approaching 6th, hard ridden and under pressure when hung badly right after last, stayed on towards finish, just held on, disqualified, placed 2nd
held up towards rear, lost place halfway, some headway from 2 out, never dangerous
UPRIGHT IMA is only given a tentative vote to get his head in front in what looks like a highly competitive opener, while both Inver Leader and Cumbrian Knight are worth monitoring in the betting market. The selection has taken a nine pounds hike in the weights since his latest win at Marker Rasen which will make life no easier. He did however win well that day in testing conditions and with similar conditions under foot this time around if recapturing his best he will be certain to be in the shake up. Inver Leader is an interesting Irish raider. Her form looks only moderate but she did shape well enough on her penultimate outing when finishing fifth of eighteen at Killarney and coming from the Tony Martin yard any support in the betting market should be noted. Cumbrian Knight won on the all weather at Southwell last month and ran well enough when last seen over jumps when finishing third at Hexham in June. He did disappoint on the level at Wolverhampton last time out but he has to be respected now sent back jumping. But for the winner we return to Upright Ima.
Karathaena (IRE) 9-1 (10-2) Held up in touch, ridden and weakened from 3 out, 5th of 7, 16l behind At The Money (11-6) at Market Rasen 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-125 (3) sft in Nov.
Ardesia (IRE) 25-1 (11-3) Mid-division, ridden and weakened approaching 3 out, 7th of 9, 32l behind Oleolat (10-9) at Kelso 2m 2f cnd hcp hdl 0-110 (4) sft in Nov.
Exclusionist 33-1 (10-12) Towards rear, ridden from 7th, 11th of 15, 48l behind Finney (10-12) at Hereford 2m 4f nov hdl (4) gs.
Caulkleys Bank 8-1 (11-2) Prominent, ridden approaching 3 out, weakened approaching next, 9th of 15, 37l behind Ruby Crown (10-0) at Leicester 2m hcp hdl 0-100 (4) hvy.
Celtic Heather (IRE) 14-1 (10-3) In touch, every chance 3 out, weakened after 2 out, tailed off, 7th of 9, well behind Always Waining (11-12) at Aintree 3m hcp hdl 0-120 (3) gd in Jun.
Classic Quart (IRE) 20-1 (10-13) Behind, headway approaching 3 out, soon chasing leaders, kept on well, never able to challenge, 3rd of 16, 9l behind Aimigayle (11-9) at Huntingdon 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gd in May.
Lawgiver (IRE) 7-1 (10-9) Not fluent 1st, held up towards rear, headway approaching 7th, ridden next, weakened 3 out, 7th of 11, 30l behind Roznic (11-8) at Southwell 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gd in Oct.
Upright Ima 12-1 (10-13) Held up, headway approaching 3 out, led approaching 2 out, stayed on well, won at Market Rasen 2m 1f ldy hcp hdl (5) sft in Nov beating Forty Five (11-2) by 2 1/2l, 11 ran.
Queen of Diamonds (IRE) 15-2 (11-4) Towards rear, struggling from halfway, 15th of 17, well behind Box Wallah (11-2) at Kelso 2m 6f cnd hcp hdl 0-100 (4) gs in Oct.
Inver Leader (IRE) 6-1 (11-3) Rear of mid-division, headway to 9th 4 out, soon weakened, tailed off, 14th of 18, well behind Cnoc An Einn (11-1) at Thurles 2m 2f cnd hcp hdl sft in Nov.
Toby Mac 100-1 (10-5) Held up, headway 4th, weakened from 4 out, 5th of 16, 20l behind Smoke And Mirrors (10-12) at Wetherby 2m nh nov hdl (4) gd in Nov.
Find Me (USA) 25-1 (11-3) Mid-division, headway approaching 2 out, driven and no extra from last, 3rd of 15, 2l behind Mischief Man (10-7) at Catterick 2m sll hcp hdl 0-95 (5) gd.
Ramvaswani (IRE) 9-1 (10-7) In touch, lost place approaching 2 out, 5th of 10, 22l behind Friendly King (11-0) at Fakenham 2m 4f mdn hdl (5) sft.
Cumbrian Knight (IRE) 15-2 (10-9) Not fluent, chased leaders, effort 2 out, every chance approaching last, ridden, no extra flat, 3rd of 8, 6l behind Storm Prospect (11-7) at Hexham 2m hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gf in Jun.
It's Bertie 11-1 (10-8) In touch, ridden approaching 4 out, soon weakened, 5th of 12, 22l behind Chigorin (11-0) at Wetherby 2m 4f hcp chs 0-105 (4) gs in Nov.
Silver Destiny 18-1 (11-2) Held up on outside, outpaced 3 out, beaten when mistake next, 11th of 12, 27l behind Kings Maiden (11-7) at Sedgefield 2m 4f mrs hcp hdl (4) sft in Nov.
General Potter 14-1 (10-3) Always behind, tailed off when pulled up 3 out in race won by Glenary (9-11) at Aintree 2m 4f nov hcp hdl 0-120 (3) hvy in Nov, 16 ran.
