tracked leader, led after 2nd, headed 6th, weakened after 2 out
led until 2nd, reminders after 4th, led again 6th, headed before next, every chance last, kept on well
behind, headway after 3 out, soon weakened
held up in rear, slow 4 out, weakened next
in touch, headway 3 out, outpaced next, rallied last, ridden to lead closing stages, stayed on well
took keen hold tracking leades, led before 4 out, hard pressed when not fluent last, soon headed and no extra
mid-division, mistake 3 out, weakened next
David Pipe has a good record with the few runners he sends to Hexham and DECOY can enhance his strike rate. He was too keen for his own good in a competitive affair at Newton Abbot last time and dropped away on the final circuit but he's back on the same mark as when a close-up third at Cartmel previously and can bounce back. Up For An Oscar was on his best behaviour when second at Uttoxeter last month and has claims on that run while Perth winner Call Box is preferred to stablemate Trucking Along. Wolf Shield is a course winner and can't be ignored but Maggio ideally needs softer going and this may be too tough for Swing Hard.
Maggio (FR) 4-1 (11-7) Held up in rear, headway before 11th, mistake 4 out, weakened 2 out, 5th of 6, 16l behind Scotch Warrior (10-5) at Perth 2m 4f hcp chs 0-140 (3) gd in Sep.
Decoy (FR) 9-1 (10-8) Mid-division, not fluent 1st, mistake and struggling 7th, well beaten after 3 out, 11th of 13, 34l behind Kangaroo Court (11-0) at Newton Abbot 2m 6f hcp hdl (2) gf in Sep.
Trucking Along (IRE) 10-1 (11-10) In rear, headway before 3 out, ridden before last, kept on same pace, 4th of 9, 16l behind Goldan Jess (10-10) at Cartmel 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-130 (3) gd in Aug.
Wolf Shield (IRE) 4-1fav (10-11) Tracked leaders, went 2nd after 2nd, led 2 out, mistake last, soon headed, no impression on winner, 2nd of 10, 10l behind Lava Lamp (9-11) at Cartmel 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-135 (3) sft in May.
Up For An Oscar (IRE) 16-1 (11-6) Not fluent and led 1st, headed before next, in touch, outpaced 7th, rallying when not fluent 3 out, chased winner before next, stayed on, unable to challenge, 2nd of 15, 1 3/4l behind Lovey Dovey (10-9) at Uttoxeter 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-120 (4) gd in Sep.
Call Box (IRE) 3-1 (11-8) Tracked leader, led after 4 out, soon headed, led again before 2 out, kept on, driven out, won at Perth 2m 4f amat hcp hdl 0-120 (4) gd in Sep beating Hold Em Cowboy (10-7) by 1 1/4l, 5 ran.
Swing Hard (IRE) Evensfav (10-12) Tracked leaders, pushed along and with leaders 4 out, chased winner, no impression from 2 out, 2nd of 5, 39l behind Ocean Club (10-12) at Cartmel 2m 6f nh nov hdl (4) gd in Aug.
