held up in rear, headway and brief effort approaching 3 out, soon weakened
held up and behind, headway approaching 2 out, ridden between last 2, kept on one pace
made all, held on well
towards rear, pushed along 4 out, no impression
in touch, headway 4 out, effort between last 2, one pace flat
prominent, weakened after 6th, tailed off, pulled up before last
prominent, effort between last 2, no extra flat
in touch, mistake 4th, weakened after 4 out, pulled up 2 out
prominent, weakening when blundered 6th, pulled up before next
chased leaders, weakened after 4 out, pulled up 2 out
soon behind, tailed off when pulled up before 4 out
A very poor handicap chase where the bar is the best place to be, but if you must put on the hard-earned then try LERIDA, who beat today's opponent Royal Glen last time at Carlisle. The selection earned his first win for well over two years on that day and is now 7lb worse off with Royal Glen, but confidence will be high, Cut suits and a light enough racing weight still makes him an attractive enough proposition. Royal Glen is a nice enough mare but a bit one-paced and is not as appealing carrying top weight here. Cybora is a last-time winner when taking a Cartmel hurdle on good to firm in May. She doesn't mind getting her toe in but is perhaps not as effective on slow ground and Ferdy Murphy's yard are not firing as well as they can so we will oppose. Norminster might be better suited by conditions and won over course and distance last time but an 11lb rise looks tough enough to stop him this time. Toulouse Express and Duke Of Malfi are not total lost causes but little else appeals and preference here is for Lerida.(Jonathan Doidge)
Royal Glen (IRE) 5-1 (11-3) Held up, headway 7th, chased winner approaching last, no impression, 2nd of 10, 4l behind Lerida (9-12) at Carlisle 2m hcp chs 0-95 (5) hvy in Oct.
Cybora (FR) 9-2fav (11-10) Held up in touch, headway 8th, ridden to lead flat, kept on well, won at Cartmel 2m 6f nov hcp hdl 0-95 (5) gd in May beating Queen of Diamonds (11-1) by 4l, 14 ran.
Duke of Malfi 10-1 (11-0) In touch, lost place 2nd, rallied 4 out, kept on same pace, never troubled leaders, 3rd of 9, 19l behind Red Man Ray (11-5) at Kelso 2m 1f nov hcp chs 0-100 (4) gd in Oct.
Toulouse Express (IRE) 4-1fav (11-2) With leader, weakened approaching 4 out, 6th of 10, 17l behind Lerida (9-12) at Carlisle 2m hcp chs 0-95 (5) hvy in Oct.
Norminster 14-1 (10-2) Mid-division, chased leaders approaching 7th, led approaching last, stayed on, won at Hexham 2m hcp chs 0-95 (5) gs in Oct beating Eborarry (11-5) by 3 1/2l, 14 ran.
Lerida 20-1 (9-12) Prominent, led 6th, ridden approaching last, rider lost whip flat, kept on well, won at Carlisle 2m hcp chs 0-95 (5) hvy in Oct beating Royal Glen (11-3) by 4l, 10 ran.
Frith (IRE) 80-1 (11-2) Towards rear, outpaced from halfway, 4th of 12, 44l behind Kalahari King (11-2) at Kelso 2m 1f beg chs (4) gs in Oct.
Silvo (NZ) 6-1 (10-12) Mid-division, headway to chase leaders 3rd, led 6th, headed well before 2 out, weakened soon after, 5th of 14, 30l behind North Walk (11-9) at Fakenham 2m cnd sll hcp hdl (5) gf in Oct.
Subsidise (IRE) 40-1 (10-9) In touch, reminders 4th, soon lost place, behind when pulled up at the 7th in race won by Justwhateverulike (10-10) at Sedgefield 2m hcp chs (5) gs in Apr, 16 ran.
Cuccinello (IRE) 33-1 (10-6) Towards rear, lost touch halfway, tailed off when pulled up 4 out in race won by Malko De Beaumont (11-7) at Carlisle 2m hcp chs 0-100 (4) gs in Oct, 12 ran.
King's Envoy (USA) 100-1 (10-9) Behind, struggling 9th, tailed off when pulled up 2 out in race won by Mister Gloss (11-12) at Perth 2m 4f nov chs (3) gs in Sept, 6 ran.
