led and raced wide, headed after 3rd, weakening when mistake 3 out, pulled up before 2 out
held up mid-division, headway before 3 out to chase leaders, chase winner 2 out, kept on and held run-in
tracked leaders, ridden before 4 out, soon weakened, pulled up before 2 out
tracked leaders, led after 3rd, kept on well from last
always behind
chased leaders, pushed along and weakened before 2 out
held up mid-division, weakened from 3 out, pulled up
held up towards rear, pushed along after 3rd, never dangerous
in rear, pushed along and weakened 3 out, unseated rider next
tracked leaders, ridden after 2 out, kept on and no impression
chased leaders, pushed along before 2 out, soon weakened
It was only a seller that Notebook won here last month though at least it was his first sign of any ability. Gunner Lindley has now had 14 starts over hurdles without winning and was just over two lengths behind Fiddler's Flight at Sedgefield on Boxing Day with Copt Hill around half-a-length in front in third. The form doesn't amount to much and the winner has no scope for improvement but he's still at the right end of the handicap so should come out on top of that trio again. Astrum has shown the occasional glimmer of ability but a chance is taken with DENY, who won this last year when well supported and doesn't have much more to do.
Dye Of A Needle (IRE) 5-1 (11-10) In touch in mid-division, lost place after 5th, tailed off 7th, soon pulled up, at Huntingdon 2m 5f hcp (4) sft in Nov.
Astrum 16-1 (11-6) Tracked leaders, losing place when mistake 3 out, soon behind, 10th of 12, dist behind Ballinalacken (11-5) at Huntingdon 2m 5f hcp (4) sft in Dec.
Bolero Collonges (FR) 50-1 (11-10) Prominent, driven and lost place before 3 out, soon weakened, tailed off, 11th of 13, dist behind Shrewd (11-12) at Musselburgh 2m hcp (4) gs in Jan.
Notebook 16-1 (10-9) Led after 1st, took keen hold, strongly challenged approaching 2 out, stayed on well, won at Catterick 2m hcp (5) sft in Dec beating Strait Run (10-8) by 1 1/2l, 11 ran.
Shivsingh 33-1 (11-3) Never better than mid-division, tailed off 3 out, 9th of 11, dist behind Darwins Theory (11-12) at Exeter 2m 1f hcp (4) hvy in Dec.
Gunner Lindley (IRE) 4-1 (11-7) Chased leaders, driven after 3 out, one pace next, ridden and kept on flat, not reach leaders, 4th of 7, 2 1/2l behind Fiddler's Flight (10-11) at Sedgefield 2m 1f hcp (5) hvy in Dec.
Deny 9-2 (11-4) Mid-division, some headway 3 out, no impression, soon weakened, 6th of 11, dist behind Jebulani (10-4) at Sedgefield 2m 1f hcp (5) gs in Apr.
Strait Run (IRE) 18-1 (10-3) Towards rear, effort before 3 out, soon weakened, 10th of 13, 27l behind Seamus Mor (11-0) at Wetherby 2m hcp (4) hvy in Jan.
Fiddler's Flight (IRE) 13-2 (10-11) Held up behind in touch, headway 3 out, ridden to chase leaders before next, challenged between last 2, led when mistake last, kept on under pressure flat, won at Sedgefield 2m 1f hcp (5) hvy in Dec beating Discoverie (10-12) by 1 3/4l, 7 ran.
Copt Hill 6-1 (10-12) Tracked leaders, switched inside and every chance approaching 2 out, ridden between last 2, one pace last, kept on flat, held towards finish, 3rd of 7, 2 1/4l behind Fiddler's Flight (10-11) at Sedgefield 2m 1f hcp (5) hvy in Dec.
Captain Sharpe 22-1 (11-1) Tracked leaders, ridden and outpaced in 4th after 3 out (usual 4 out), soon weakened, tailed off, 4th of 5, dist behind Roxyfet (10-13) at Sedgefield 2m hcp (5) hvy in Dec.
