tracked leader, led 3 out and blundered, kept on well run-in
tracked leaders until 4th, soon lost place, tailed off from 10th, pulled up
prominent, ridden and weakened before 3 out
always behind, struggling from 9th, pulled up
led until after 7th, led again before 8th, headed 3 out, one pace from 2 out
in rear, headway from 4 out, in 3rd and one pace when fell last
held up mid-division, weakened before 9th, pulled up
tracked leaders, led after 7th, headed before 8th, weakened from 4 out
Middlebrow has been badly out of form including when tackling fences for the first time at Bangor in August. Minella Suite has failed to complete in two of his last three and finished last of five at Ayr last month after a mistake at the final fence. OAK VINTAGE gave notice of an imminent victory when beaten a short-head at Hexham then made all for an impressive victory at Kelso. He's been handed a 10lb rise and may not have things his own way this time but is still difficult to oppose. Roman Numeral, beaten a head at Hexham last month, didn't get very far in a better race at Newcastle a week ago.
Middlebrow (IRE) 2-1 (10-12) Tracked leader, ridden and weakened before last, last of 4, dist behind Sophie Olivia (10-5) at Hexham 2m (4) gs in Sep.
Stormbay Bomber (IRE) 25-1 (11-12) Tracked leaders, pushed along after 5 out, outpaced next, soon weakened, 7th of 8, 23 1/4l behind John Williams (11-7) at Musselburgh 2m hcp (4) gd in Nov.
Minella Suite (IRE) 7-4fav (10-7) Tracked leader, pressed leader from 2 out, every chance when mistake last, weakened run-in, last of 5, 5 1/4l behind Vengeur De Guye (11-12) at Ayr 2m hcp (4) sft in Oct.
Christmas Twenty (IRE) 20-1 (11-9) Mid-division, headway to chase leaders 4 out, never on terms, 5th of 13, dist behind Western Jo (11-11) at Hexham 2m 4f hcp (4) hvy in Oct.
Oak Vintage (IRE) 4-1 (10-5) Led before 2nd, made rest, driven clear after 2 out, stayed on well, won at Kelso 2m 1f hcp (4) gd in Nov beating Leading Score (11-7) by 9l, 10 ran.
Roman Numeral (IRE) 14-1 (10-3) Chasing leaders when fell 4th, at Newcastle 2m hcp (4) gd in Nov.
My Idea 8-1 (10-9) Led narrowly to 2nd, dropped to rear and reminders after 4th, struggling next, tailed off 5 out, last of 8, 29 1/4l behind John Williams (11-7) at Musselburgh 2m hcp (4) gd in Nov.
King Golan (IRE) 20-1 (10-7) Raced keenly, held up until headway to track leader 4th, led when hung and jumped left from next, headed narrowly after 8th, blundered 11th, outpaced 3 out, no chance with front pair after, 3rd of 8, 17l behind Mullaghmurphy Blue (11-5) at Musselburgh 2m 4f hcp (4) gd in Nov.
