held up in touch, chased leaders 9th, outpaced before 4 out, soon weakened
led, jumped right virtually throughout, headed 3 out, ridden and 2 lengths down in 2nd before next, rallied to regain lead last, kept on when hard pressed towards finish, held on
tracked winner, challenged 7th, lost place 10th, outpaced by front pair before 4 out, no chance after, lost modest 3rd towards finish
tracked leaders, lost place 9th, behind when went right 5 out, pulled up before next
held up behind in touch, struggling 9th, tailed off when pulled up before 4 out
held up in touch when fell 6th
tracked leaders, blundered 8th, soon struggling and behind, stayed on to take modest 3rd towards finish, no chance with front pair
held up in touch, went 2nd at 10th, ridden to lead 3 out, 2 lengths clear when not fluent next, headed last, rallied towards finish, just held
Ergo Sum won over hurdles here in November but was tailed off on his chasing bow at Leicester. Farasi Kubwa may do better now tackling fences and Expanding Universe and Crown And Glory could also go well off low weights. The latter has been placed at Sedgefield and Catterick in his last two starts. Mick Easterby has had winners under both codes lately and REAR ADMIRAL had a nice run round over hurdles at Newcastle last month before tiring. That was his first race in well over two years so he's going to strip fitter here and he was second on his only previous run over fences in 2012. He's preferred to Big George, who probably beat little at Market Rasen but does like soft ground.
Rear Admiral (IRE) 14-1 (11-6) Held up towards rear, ridden after 4 out, never dangerous, pulled up before 2 out, in a race won by Milan Flyer (10-9) at Newcastle 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-105 (4) sft, 15 ran.
Ergo Sum 7-2fav (10-3) Prominent on inside, lost place 10th, behind when blundered 4 out, tailed off, 9th of 10, well behind Rhapando (11-0) at Leicester 2m 4f nov hcp chs 0-120 (4) gs in Dec.
Big George 13-8fav (11-2) Tracked leader, led 8th, drew clear from 3 out, stayed on well, very easily, won at Market Rasen 2m 4f hcp 0-100 (5) sft in Nov beating Around A Pound (11-10) by 11l, 5 ran.
Flinstone (IRE) 16-1 (11-12) Held up in rear, behind 4 out, pulled up before next, in a race won by Steel Summit (12-1) at Doncaster 3m hcp hdl 0-100 (5) gd, 12 ran.
I'm A Rocker (IRE) 12-1 (11-10) Chased leaders to after 5th, behind when ridden and reluctant next, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out, in a race won by Agent Louise (10-6) at Uttoxeter 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-100 (5) gd in May, 10 ran.
Farasi Kubwa 6-1 (11-7) Took keen hold, tracked leaders, mistake 7th, driven along disputing 2nd after 3 out, chased leading pair until weakened before 2 out, 5th of 9, 20l behind Mariet (10-9) at Plumpton 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-100 (5) gd in Oct.
Expanding Universe (IRE) 10-1 (10-13) Tracked leaders, mistake 7th, lost place 12th, not a danger after, 6th of 7, 13l behind Steel Summit (11-12) at Huntingdon 2m 4f nov hcp chs 0-105 (4) gs in Dec.
Crown And Glory (IRE) 4-1fav (11-0) Tracked leaders and keen, kept on in 3rd from last, always held, 3rd of 9, 8l behind Brunello (11-9) at Catterick 2m 3f hcp 0-100 (5) gs in Dec.
