held up last, headway 10th, tracked leading pair 12th, challenging when hampered 3 out, went 2nd going well soon after, held when found no extra, hung left flat
tracked leader until weakened approaching 12th
stumbled, unseated rider soon after start
tracked leaders, ridden approaching 3 out, went 2nd soon after, led 2 out, ridden, in command when edged left flat
in touch, headway to track leaders when mistake 8th, led 12th, blundered 3 out, soon headed, 3rd, held when hit next
led, blundered 12th, soon headed, weakened approaching 3 out
soon tracked leaders until lost place 10th, no danger after
Dead Mans Dante can make the journey from North Yorkshire pay off, with El Viejo, Here Comes Stanley and Twenty Degrees likely to give him most to do. Dead Mans Dante already has more experience than most over fences, and has been successful twice at Sedgefield, most recently in a handicap chase 10 days ago. He seems to handle any type of ground and has plenty of stamina, so despite having to shoulder a penalty, Ferdy Murphy's charge looks the one to beat. El Viejo has run two decent races round here since being fitted with blinkers and will probably try and make the running again. He may hang on for a place without being quite good enough to score. Herecomestanley did not jump at all well when falling at Stratford, but that was only his third outing over fences and he can only improve, while Twenty Degrees is consistent but might find conditions too lively. All in all, Dead Mans Dante has more going for him than most and should follow up.
Dead Mans Dante (IRE) 7-2fav (11-10) Held up mid-division, headway 9th, led going well after 3 out, driven clear after next, ridden out flat, won at Sedgefield 2m 5f hcp chs 0-110 (4) gf beating Dumadic (10-9) by 2l, 11 ran.
Ehab (IRE) 9-1 (10-7) Tracked leaders, ridden 4 out, weakened 2 out, 6th of 10, 38l behind The Newsman (11-9) at Plumpton 2m 4f hcp chs 0-100 (4) gs.
El Viejo (IRE) 5-1 (10-7) Led, ridden after 4 out, headed next, kept on same pace, 2nd of 5, 8l behind Lewis Island (11-0) at Fontwell 2m 4f beg chs (3) sft.
General Grey (IRE) 12-1 (11-4) Mid-division until weakened 9th, tailed off when pulled up 3 out in race won by Aces Four (11-4) at Ludlow 3m mdn hdl (4) gd in Feb, 16 ran.
Herecomestanley 7-1 (10-11) Held up, hit 8th and 11th, headway 13th, 5 lengths down when fell 5 out in race won by Dickensbury Lad (11-2) at Stratford 2m 7f beg chs (3) gd, 7 ran.
The Dream Lives On (IRE) 66-1 (10-12) Led until headed after 7th, soon weakened and pulled up 4 out in race won by Bertiebanoo (10-12) at Plumpton 2m 5f nh nov hdl (E) sft in Nov '03, 14 ran.
Twenty Degrees 6-1 (11-12) Tracked leaders, ridden and outpaced 14th, plugged on to take 3rd approaching 2 out, 3rd of 7, 32l behind Roddy The Vet (10-8) at Plumpton 3m 2f nov hcp chs 0-95 (5) gs.
