mid-division, headway after 11th, hit 4 out, 6th and ridden when mistake, pecked and unseated rider 3 out
held up in rear, headway 14th, not fluent next, weakened after 2 out
led 2nd, headed after 6th, led 9th until 11th, left chasing winner 3 out, no impression approaching last
chased leaders, never travelling, jumped slowly 7th and 8th, soon lost place, last before 10th, pulled up approaching 14th
tracked leaders, challenged after 4 out, led approaching 3 out, clear before last, stayed on well
tracked leaders, mistake 6th, lost place 13th, disputing 6th when hit 14th, lost hind legs and unseated rider
held up in rear, headway 14th, hit 4 out, weakened after 2 out
led until 2nd, led after 6th until 9th, led 11th, headed when mistake 3 out, weakened next
Micky Hammond's Archie's Wish has been in cracking good form of late with two wins at Sedgefield in his last three starts but he is 9lb higher than on the latest occasion and 16lb higher than when scoring three runs ago so may now be too high in the weights and a better bet may be RECKLESS VENTURE. Lucinda Russell's gelding showed a consistent level of form last term and again when last seen at Kelso in May and has solid claims racing off a 1lb lower mark today on his reappearance. Ferdy Murphy's Pistol Basc comes back following a similarly lengthy break and has to be considered but the yard is fairly quiet at present so he makes less appeal than the selection. Tim Vaughan's Gift Of The Gods is bound to be popular with backers but has harshly gone up 4lb despite having been well held by Moon Melody at Fontwell last time.
Keoghs Bar (IRE) 11-2 (11-2) Held up in 4th, mistake 8th, lost place when jumped slowly next, rallied 2 out, one pace on extended flat, 3rd of 7, 6l behind Stolen Light (10-0) at Sedgefield 2m 4f hcp chs 0-105 (4) gd in Sep.
Pistol Basc (FR) 10-3fav (11-4) Towards rear, reminders approaching 9th, headway next, went 3rd approaching 3 out, one pace, 3rd of 11, 22l behind Gunship (10-13) at Uttoxeter 2m 5f hcp chs 0-90 (5) sft in May.
Reckless Venture (IRE) 4-1 (10-8) Held up in touch, went 2nd approaching 2 out, every chance going to last, one pace run-in, 3rd of 7, 6l behind Minouchka (11-5) at Kelso 3m 4f hcp ch 0-110 (4) gd in May.
Gift Of The Gods (IRE) 9-4fav (11-8) Held up in touch, tracked leaders 4th, mistake 14th, weakened 4 out, 3rd of 6, 15l behind Moon Melody (10-8) at Fontwell 3m 2f hcp 0-100 (4) gd in Sep.
Overquest 33-1 (11-7) With leader until after 2nd, prominent, lost place 6th, rallied after 8th, weakened approaching 4 out, left remote 4th 2 out, 4th of 7, 32l behind Frankie Anson (11-7) at Cartmel 2m 5f beg chs (4) gd in Aug.
Archie's Wish 5-2 (10-7) Tracked leader, challenged last, led flat, stayed on well, won at Sedgefield 3m 3f hcp chs 0-95 (5) gd in Sep beating Executive's Hall (10-0) by 7l, 4 ran.
Braden Brook (IRE) 100-1 (10-5) Chased leaders, weakened 4 out, tailed off, 7th of 9, 45l behind Knockavilla (10-12) at Sedgefield 2m 4f nov chs (4) gf in Apr.
Murphys Beau (IRE) 7-2 (10-9) Held up mid-division, pushed along approaching 9th, soon struggling, took remote 3rd near finish, 3rd of 8, 34l behind Mischief Man (11-1) at Cartmel 2m 5f hcp 0-90 (5) gd in Aug.
