mid-division, chased leaders when mistake 4 out, soon outpaced, left 5 lengths 2nd next, soon ridden and no impression lost place last
behind, struggling 6th, headway under pressure 3 out, soon ridden, stayed on to go 2nd last, not reach winner
with leader, led 2nd, made most after, hard pressed when left 5 lengths clear 3 out, soon ridden, held on under pressure flat
tracked leaders, close up 3rd when fell 7th
chased leaders, outpaced 4 out, soon weakened, tailed off
led to 2nd, tracked winner, lost place 4 out, outpaced when left 3rd next, no impression
in rear, blundered 5th, weakening when hampered and unseated rider 7th
mid-division, mistake 4th, headway and in touch 7th, went 2nd 4 out, upsides and every chance when fell next
chased leaders to 7th, soon behind, tailed off 3 out
Withdrawn
We will side with DREVER ROUTE in this handicap chase and he is nominated over Jim Tango and Bamby. The ground is a big plus for our selection because he loves to get his toe in, although it was probably a little too testing for him at Kelso last time. He had previously run well behind the useful Little Josh and a reproduction of that effort would make him tough to beat. Jim Tango finally got his head in front here last time when the blinkers had a really positive effect on him. If they work the oracle again here then he would have a leading chance. Bamby has been in good form of late and he reverts back to chasing after going close over hurdles last time, He looks to be on a fair mark at present and the ground will not be a problem so he is another capable of troubling the judge. Miss Pross looked in need of the run at Wetherby back in November but she is on a decent mark at present and she should strip fitter for that run. Farne Island is having only his fifth run over fences today so there may be more to come from him, but in an open event the vote is given to Drever Route.
Miss Pross 10-1 (11-3) Held up, chased leaders 4 out, weakened approaching last, 4th of 5, 14l behind Kilkenny All Star (11-0) at Wetherby 2m hcp chs 0-125 (3) sft in Nov.
Drever Route (IRE) 4-1 (11-0) Tracked leaders, ridden and outpaced approaching 3 out, no impression, 3rd of 9, 28l behind Reindeer Dippin (11-0) at Hexham 2m nov chs (4) hvy in Dec.
Carrietau 7-4fav (11-11) Soon led, headed approaching 4 out, every chance next, one paced approaching 2 out, weakened when lost 2nd place towards finish, 3rd of 6, 9l behind Duke of Malfi (10-11) at Ayr 2m hcp chs 0-105 (4) sft in Dec.
Karmadice 8-1 (10-10) Held up, headway 8th, went 2nd 3 out to 2 out, weakened flat, 3rd of 8, 10l behind April San (10-10) at Sedgefield 2m 4f beg chs (5) sft in Nov.
Crow Spinney 33-1 (10-6) Chased leaders, hit 7th, lost place after 9th, weakened approaching 12th, pulled up before 4 out, in a race won by Pickamus (10-13) at Huntingdon 2m 4f nov chs 0-115 (4) sft in Dec, 8 ran.
Bamby (IRE) 6-1 (10-3) Held up in touch, chased winner approaching 3 out, ridden next, blundered last when held in 2nd, 2nd of 9, 12l behind Open de L'Isle (11-6) at Carlisle 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-125 (3) hvy in Nov.
Tranos (USA) 33-1 (11-4) Held up, mistake 4 out when weakening, 11th of 15, well behind Blacks Bridge (11-6) at Catterick 2m hcp chs 0-105 (4) gs in Dec.
Farne Island 8-1 (11-0) Mid-division, mistake 8th, soon lost place, ralliled from 2 out, went 3rd last, no impression, 3rd of 11, 12l behind Carrietau (11-1) at Sedgefield 2m hcp chs 0-110 (4) sft in Nov.
Braddock Island 11-1 (11-1) Held up, ridden after 4 out, no impression, 10th of 15, 34l behind Blacks Bridge (11-6) at Catterick 2m hcp chs 0-105 (4) gs in Dec.
Jim Tango (FR) 9-4fav (11-0) Made all, not fluent 5 out, unchallenged, won at Catterick 2m 3f mdn chs (5) gs in Dec beating Spellchecker (11-0) by 8l, 9 ran.
