led, joined 3rd, headed after 6th, weakened 3 out, left in modest 3rd last
prominent, jumped left 1st, not fluent next, soon chased leaders, lost place after 6th, behind when pulled up before 4 out
held up towards rear, headway to chase leaders halfway, effort 3 out, slightly hampered when left in 2nd last, kept on under pressure
slowly away, held up, hampered 1st, headway to chase leaders next, blundered and unseated rider 3rd
held up towards rear, mistake 8th, soon struggling, behind when pulled up before 4 out
in touch, hampered 1st, progress to join leader next, led after 6th, strongly challenged from 2 out, headed approaching when fell last
held up in rear, slow 7th, under pressure 4 out, soon beaten, left in modest 4th last
tracked leader, keen, every chance 2 out, led approaching when left 2 lengths clear last, held on, all out
The Paddy Pie and Manwell are closely matched on Sedgefield running and both could figure again. Luckofthedraw has run well in a couple of novice races at Carlisle but Warthog was pulled up at Kempton after winning an incident-packed race at Sandown. SCORPION SID (NAP) had the beating of Slanelough when the latter was hampered and unseated his rider two out here last time. He has a real chasing build and is expected to progress further over the larger obstacles but jumping has never been Wilde Blue Yonder’s strongest attribute.
Warthog (FR) 8-1 (11-8) Led until blundered 10th, hit 12th, soon pulled up, at Kempton 2m 4f hcp (3) gs in Dec.
Luckofthedraw (FR) 10-3 (11-8) Tracked leaders on outside, outpaced before 3 out, soon ridden, 5th and no impression next, rallied before last, stayed on to press winner flat, always just held, 2nd of 7, 3/4l behind Didero Vallis (11-3) at Carlisle 2m 5f hcp (3) sft in Dec.
Wilde Blue Yonder (IRE) 8-1 (10-8) Tracked leaders in 5th until blundered and lost place 8th, never on terms after, plugged on, 6th of 9, 25 1/2l behind De Rasher Counter (10-7) at Newbury 2m 6f hcp (3) gs in Dec.
Scorpion Sid (IRE) Evensfav (11-2) Made all, not fluent 9th, driven after 5 out, left well clear 2 out, comfortably, won at Haydock 2m 3f (3) sft in Dec beating Diablo De Rouhet (11-2) by 18l, 5 ran.
Sunset Showdown (IRE) 14-1 (11-3) Held up last, never a factor, 10th of 11, dist behind Chosen Path (11-7) at Newbury 2m 7f hcp (3) sft in Dec.
Slanelough (IRE) 5-1 (11-2) Chased leaders, under pressure 4 out, mistake next, rallying in 3rd when hampered and unseated rider 2 out, at Haydock 2m 3f (3) sft in Dec.
Manwell (IRE) 5-2 (10-11) Held up in last, slow 6th, rapid headway to lead approaching and mistake last, soon headed, no extra, 2nd of 4, 3/4l behind The Paddy Pie (10-9) at Sedgefield 2m hcp (3) sft in Jan.
The Paddy Pie (IRE) 13-2 (10-9) Tracked leader, took keen hold, led before 8th, headed approaching last, led again soon after, ran on, won at Sedgefield 2m hcp (3) sft in Jan beating Manwell (10-11) by 3/4l, 4 ran.