held up in rear, headway chasing leaders 10f out, pushed along 5f out, weakened over 4f out
led until 5f out, chased leader, edging left from 4f out, chased winner over 3f out until ridden 3f out, weakened over 2f out
chased leaders, went 2nd 3f out, ridden and every chance over 1f out, kept on same pace and held final 100 yards
in touch until pushed along and outpaced 7f out, pushed along and rallied on outside 4f out, chased leaders 3rd 3f out, soon ridden, one pace and no impression when edged left over 1f out
took keen hold, chased leader, travelling on bit 4f out, led over 3f out, ridden over 2f out, pressed over 1f out, stayed on final furlong, in command final 100 yards
chased leaders, led 5f out, soon pushed along, headed over 3f out, weakened 3f out
ran green in rear, reminderes and struggling over 10f out, tailed off
pushed along and strugging 10f out, always towards rear, tailed off
Dueling Banjos and Simple Assignment attempt to defy penalties incurred after respective winning debuts at Worcester and Sedgefield but could be worth opposing. Captain McGinley hails from a yard that does well here in bumpers but Tikkapick will need to improve on his third at Plumpton and Ballyrath and Vodka Island have their first start under Rules. THUNDER AND RAIN was the only one to make a race of it with Jack Frost at Fakenham. The winner has scored over hurdles since so that may be decent form and Peter Bowen's gelding can go one better here.
Dueling Banjos 14-1 (11-10) Held up in mid-division, headway 8f out, challenged 2f out, led over 1f out, clear inside final furlong, stayed on well, won at Worcester 2m mdn nat hunt flat (6) gs in Oct beating Bronco Billy (11-10) by 5l, 11 ran.
Simple Assignment (IRE) 10-11fav (11-4) Made all, ridden over 1f out, stayed on, won at Sedgefield 2m 1f cond NH flat (6) sft in May beating Charlie Breekie (11-1) by 2l, 8 ran.
Ballyrath (IRE) 3-1 (11-9) Rcd cl 2nd, rdn in tch & mstk 3out, not qckn 2out, rdn & ko, 4th of 12, 9l behind Lovely Job (11-9) at Loughbrickland 3m ire ptp sft in Oct.
Captain McGinley (IRE) Robin Des Pres gelding out of Rocella.
Thunder And Rain 9-4 (10-11) Led, headed 12f out, led again 5f out, ridden and headed when clear with winner over 1f out, kept on one pace, 2nd of 6, 3 1/2l behind Jack Frost (11-8) at Fakenham 2m cond NH flat (6) gs in Nov.
Tikkapick (IRE) 18-1 (10-9) Close up, pushed along halfway, outpaced 6f out, kept on from 2f out, went 3rd inside final furlong, 3rd of 7, 15l behind Rude And Crude (11-2) at Plumpton 2m 2f NH flat (6) hvy in Nov.
Whiskey John Westerner gelding out of Cherry Lane.
Vodka Island (IRE) 7-2 (11-11) Rcd 4th, 6th 6out, prog in 5th 5out, further prog 2out & so bef last & went 2nd cl home, nvr nrr, 2nd of 8, 2l behind Castlewhite (11-11) at Dromahane 3m ire ptp gd in Apr.
Ticinese 100-1 (10-9) Raced keenly, led 3f, lost 2nd 10f out, chased leaders, ridden and weakened quickly 5f out, 17th of 18, well behind Gaitway (10-9) at Newbury 2m NH flat (2) gs in Mar.
