led or disputed lead and clear of rest to before 9th, chased winner, lost place after 4 out, weakened and behind from next, tailed off when pecked last
tracked clear pair, took closer order 9th, blundered 11th, took narrow 2nd after 4 out, not fluent next, soon ridden, kept on same pace, no chance with easy winner
chased clear leaders in 4th, took closer order 9th, under pressure when hit 12th, soon ridden, no danger after
led or disputed lead and clear of rest, went on before 9th, driven clear again before 3 out, unchallenged after, very easily
behind, pushed along before 9th, blundered 11th, headway under pressure to dispute 2nd after 4 out, ridden and outpaced after next, well held in 3rd soon after
not always fluent, always behind, reminders after 10th, lost touch and pulled up before 12th
Paddling won last year’s renewal off today’s mark and may bounce back today but CHASING HEADLIGHTS has the stronger recent form. A runner-up over timber last month, he also found only one too good in a chase at Plumpton before that and should go close with a similar effort. Djarkevi disappointed last time having ran well at Warwick earlier while headgear is added to Budarri having only his second outing over fences and he may finish closer. The Dawn Man slips further down the weights and Dallas Cowboy has had 16 starts over the larger obstacles without winning.
Dallas Cowboy (IRE) 11-1 (11-9) Led, headed 11th, tracked winner until ridden 4 out, tailed off, 4th of 8, dist behind Pookie Pekan (11-6) at Wetherby 2m 5f hcp (4) gs in Nov.
Budarri 14-1 (11-8) Led to 2nd, remained prominent, driven and lost place after last (usual 3 out), soon weakened, tailed off, 9th of 14, dist behind Border Victor (10-9) at Kelso 2m 7f hcp (4) gs in Dec.
The Dawn Man (IRE) 11-1 (11-11) Behind, headway 12th, modest 4th 3 out, weakened before next, 4th of 10, 29l behind Sounds Of Italy (10-11) at Warwick 3m hcp (5) sft in Nov.
Djarkevi (FR) 11-2 (11-6) Pulled hard and tended to jump left, held up in last pair, bumped 11th, headway into 3rd approaching 3 out, well held when blundered next, went left last, 3rd of 6, 12 1/4l behind Beau Sancy (11-11) at Wincanton 2m 4f hcp (5) gf in Oct.
Paddling (FR) 7-2fav (11-2) Behind, headway after 9th, weakened 3 out, tailed off, 7th of 9, dist behind Well Above Par (12-3) at Hexham 2m 4f hcp (4) sft in Dec.
Chasing Headlights (IRE) 16-1 (10-0) Mid-division, headway before 3 out, challenged last, soon ridden, kept on and held towards finish, 2nd of 14, 1 1/4l behind Bonza Girl (11-9) at Taunton 2m 3f hcp (5) gd in Nov.
