held up in rear, headway to chase leaders 12th, under pressure before 3 out, soon rallied, chased winner after last, kept on under pressure
mid-division when pulled up before 9th
held up towards rear, headway when blundered 7th, not fluent 10th, under pressure 12th, behind when pulled up 6 out
tracked leaders, led 5th, headed after 8th, led again before 10th, strongly challenged from 3 out, headed last, no extra flat
tracked leaders, slow 4th, mistake 12th, under pressure when blundered 5 out, soon behind, pulled up before 3 out
prominent, led after 8th, headed before 10th, ridden to challenge 3 out, weakened before last
led until 5th, lost place before 9th, behind when pulled up before 12th
behind, headway approaching 3 out, chased leaders next, no extra approaching last
always in rear, never jumped well, struggling12th, pulled up 6 out
mid-division, under pressure halfway, soon behind, pulled up before 4 out
mid-division, headway 13th, chased leaders 5 out, every chance 2 out, stayed on strongly
mid-division, weakened 13th, tailed off from 4 out, pulled up before 2 out
chased leaders, mistake 5th, blundered 11th, weakened 3 out
Verko could not be in better form and a four-timer is not out of the question, despite a further rise in the weights, with Finian O'Toole taking off a valuable 7lb. Jac The Legend would probably have finished second at Uttoxeter last time had he not refused at the last and this is a drop in grade. But he looks high enough in the weights, as does the returning Frank The Slink. Drumlister usually finds one too good and Urban Gale is best at Sedgefield but Rebel Benefit could be interesting. SWING HARD had every chance when unseating Danny Cook at Newcastle last month. He's well treated present and can finally get his head back in front today.
Jac The Legend 3-1jfav (10-5) Tracked leaders on inside, closed 6th, weakened after 2 out, left remote 2nd when refused last, at Uttoxeter 2m 7f hcp (3) sft in Nov.
Frank The Slink 28-1 (10-10) Towards rear, behind 13th, pulled up 4 out, at Carlisle 3m 2f hcp (3) sft in Nov.
Shinooki (IRE) 8-1 (11-8) Mid-division, weakened before 4 out, pulled up, at Catterick 3m 1f hcp (4) gs in Dec.
Swing Hard (IRE) 5-2fav (11-4) In touch on outside, pressed leader 10th, 2 lengths down when blundered badly 4 out, not recover and unseated rider soon after, at Newcastle 2m 4f hcp (4) sft in Nov.
Rebel Benefit (IRE) 10-1 (10-9) Tracked leaders, ridden and one pace before last, 5th of 10, 11 1/4l behind Sandy Beach (10-12) at Taunton 2m 7f hcp (4) gs in Dec.
Whats Up Woody (IRE) 3-1 (11-9) Tracked leaders in 3rd, ridden before 3 out, soon weakened, pulled up before 2 out, at Uttoxeter 2m 6f hcp (4) hvy in Nov.
Drumlister (IRE) 11-1 (11-10) With leaders, led 7th, headed 9th, led before 3 out, headed 3 out, one pace run-in, 2nd of 9, 2 1/4l behind Itstimeforapint (11-12) at Musselburgh 3m hcp (4) sft in Dec.
Verko (FR) 9-4 (11-1) Held up in rear, headway 5th, tracked leaders next, led 2 out, ran on well (3 fences ommited), won at Carlisle 2m 4f hcp (4) hvy in Dec beating Mansonien L'as (10-6) by 5l, 5 ran.
Feast Of Fire (IRE) 25-1 (10-1) Always behind, 8th of 11, dist behind Ikorodu Road (11-11) at Doncaster 3m 2f hcp (3) gs in Dec.
Urban Gale (IRE) 7-1 (11-12) Chased leaders in 3rd, ridden to chase winner before last, kept on and always well held, 3rd of 11, 9l behind Not A Bother Boy (11-12) at Sedgefield 3m 2f hcp (5) sft in Nov.
Gonalston Cloud (IRE) 4-11fav (12-0) Led 13; qcknd clr aft 2 out, won at Garthorpe 3m gd in May beating Thanks For Coming (12-7) by 3 1/2l, 2 ran.
Apache Blue (IRE) 16-1 (11-0) Led, went left 1st, went left again and headed next, chased winner until before 6th, chased leaders, ridden and weakened before 4 out, 9th of 15, 27 1/4l behind Touch Of Steel (11-4) at Musselburgh 3m hcp (5) gd in Nov.
Apache Pilot 11-2 (11-5) Held up mid-division, weakened from 15th, 6th of 11, 30 1/2l behind Not A Bother Boy (11-12) at Sedgefield 3m 2f hcp (5) sft in Nov.
