held up, headway 2 out, took it up home turn travelling well, ridden clear from last, never in any danger
led, ridden and headed home turn, weakened from last
mid division, mistake 5th, pushed along from 11th in rear, pulled up 2 out
mid division, not fluent 6th, dropped towards rear 8th, pulled up before last
in rear, headway behind leaders 2 out, ridden to go 3rd last, could not go pace of winner, held on for 2nd
mid division, slightly hampered by faller 3 out, pushed along to stay in touch with leaders home turn, weakened last
tracked leader, ridden and outpaced home turn, weakened last
chased leader, still going well when fell 3 out
NonRunner
This looks wide open but it may pay to stick with those in the top half of the handicap. Square Viviani and Real Armani are course and distance winners but the latter was beaten by another, Supreme Steel, here in October. Cudgel is still a maiden over fences but has placed often, though lacks a recent run. DEEP CHARM was runner-up behind Kelso specialist and subsequent winner Breaking The Ice on his chasing bow and has been left on the same mark so has a good chance of going one better. Very Patient may also have more to offer over the larger obstacles.
Deep Charm 16-1 (10-9) In rear, not fluent on occasions, effort and headway to chase winner before 2 out, ridden after 2 out, kept on but no impression from before last, 2nd of 6, 4l behind Breaking The Ice (10-7) at Kelso 2m 7f hcp (4) sft in Nov.
Real Armani 6-1 (10-8) Midfield, pushed along 3 out, weakened before last, 5th of 11, 25 1/4l behind Lough Derg Farmer (10-12) at Hexham 4m hcp (4) gs in Nov.
Very Patient (IRE) 10-1 (11-6) Held up, pushed along 3 out, no extra, 7th of 13, 17 3/4l behind Rollerruler (10-10) at Hexham 2m hcp (5) gs in Nov.
Square Viviani (FR) 12-1 (11-6) Held up in 5th and ran in snatches, hit 7th, went modest 3rd after 10th, plugged on, never any chance with very easy winner, 3rd of 5, dist behind Loch Garman Aris (10-11) at Bangor-on-Dee 3m hcp (4) sft in May.
Cudgel 4-1 (11-3) Held up towards rear, not fluent 11th, headway before 4 out, still well off the pace when rapid progress before 2 out, stayed on strongly flat, 3rd of 14, 3l behind Shanroe Street (11-9) at Hexham 3m hcp (5) gd in Apr.
Flaming Glory (IRE) 15-2 (10-2) Towards rear, mistake 7th, headway 4 out, mistake 3 out, ridden after 2 out, kept on after last, 3rd of 12, 9 3/4l behind Breaking The Ice (10-13) at Kelso 2m 7f hcp (5) gd in Oct.
Hidden Cargo (IRE) 16-1 (10-10) Mid-division, jumped slowly 3rd, struggling 11th, pulled up before 4 out, at Cartmel 3m 1f hcp (5) gd in Jul.
Space Safari (FR) 40-1 (11-4) Chased leaders, not fluent 1st, ridden and weakened quickly 3 out, last of 11, 36 3/4l behind Nells Son (11-4) at Kelso 2m mdn (4) gd in Oct.
Supreme Steel (IRE) 9-1 (10-11) Mid-division, pushed along 3 out, detached 2 out, no extra, 5th of 9, 36 1/2l behind Regaby (10-12) at Sedgefield 3m 3f hcp (5) gd in Nov.
