in touch, weakened approaching 3 out
prominent until pulled up before 6th
towards rear, never dangerous
led, ridden and headed between last 2, one pace under pressure
mid-division, headway approaching 3 out, effort approaching last, no extra run-in
held up mid-division, headway 4 out, led between last 2 comfortably
mid-division, weakened 7th, tailed off when pulled up after 2 out
towards rear, never dangerous
towards rear, weakened halfway, tailed off when pulled up before 4 out
mid-division, outpaced 4 out, stayed on strongly run-in to go 2nd near finish
in touch, blundered 4 out, weakened 2 out
held up towards rear, headway 8th, effort approaching 3 out, weakened next
behind, struggling halfway, tailed off when pulled up before 4 out
chased leaders, blundered 4 out, rallied and effort after next, no extra run-in
Charlie George can land the prize here at the main expense of Arctic Spirit and Mystic Glen. The selection looks to be going the right way and he won with plenty in hand when he beat Hollows Mist over this course and distance last time. He has ground conditions to suit and if he progresses again then he will be hard to beat. Arctic Spirit ran another sound race behind Johnston's Swallow at Towcester last time but he is thoroughly exposed and he may need the run after being off the track since June. Mystic Glen ran no sort of race here last time but he is better than that and it will be no surprise if he bounces back to form. Tin Healy's Pass is a course and distance winner but he is not the most reliable and he's failed to complete on two of his last three starts. All of which returns us to the progressive Charlie George as the pick.
Crofton Arch 20-1 (11-12) Prominent until weakened 7th, last of 10, well behind Charlie George (10-5) at Hexham 2m hcp chs 0-95 (5) gf in Oct.
Captain Murphy (IRE) 33-1 (11-7) Led 4th, headed 8th, weakened 5 out, beaten when pulled up 2 out in race won by Friendly Request (9-12) at Market Rasen 2m 4f nov hcp chs 0-100 (4) gf in May, 13 ran.
Mystic Glen 85-40fav (10-0) Held up, behind, ridden 11th, never dangerous, 8th of 9, well behind Lord On The Run (11-12) at Hexham 2m 4f hcp chs 0-110 (4) gd in Oct.
Arctic Spirit 9-2 (10-7) Led, headed 2nd, ridden to chase leaders 7th, kept on to take 2nd flat, 2nd of 7, 5l behind Johnston's Swallow (10-4) at Towcester 2m hcp chs 0-105 (4) gd in Jun.
Troodos Jet 50-1 (9-7) Behind, headway 3 out, ridden and weakened next, 9th of 13, 21l behind dhtrs Go Figure (10-3) & Gold Gun (10-8) at Perth 2m hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gs in Jul.
Charlie George 2-1fav (10-5) Held up towards rear, headway 3 out, led approaching last, soon clear, won at Hexham 2m hcp chs 0-95 (5) gf in Oct beating Hollows Mist (10-2) by 3l, 10 ran.
Heartofmidlothian (IRE) 14-1 (10-8) Held up, headway approaching 4th, ridden approaching 3 out, 3rd and weakening when fell 2 out in race won by Bermuda Pointe (10-11) at Towcester 2m nov hcp chs 0-100 (4) gd in Oct, 9 ran.
Tin Healy's Pass 28-1 (10-3) Held up, headway after 3 out, weakened from next, 5th of 16, 16l behind Snow's Ride (11-7) at Kelso 2m 6f cnd hcp hdl 0-100 (4) gd in Oct.
Friedhelmo (GER) 100-1 (10-10) In touch, ridden 3 out, soon weakened, 13th of 16, 32l behind Airedale Lad (10-10) at Hexham 2m sll hdl (5) gf in Oct.
Gunson Hight 33-1 (10-4) Chased leaders, hit 7th and 8th, soon lost place, tailed off when pulled up 2 out in race won by Hollows Mist (10-0) at Newcastle 2m 4f hcp chs 0-95 (5) gf, 11 ran.
New Realm (USA) 25-1 (11-1) Took keen hold, prominent until 4th, tailed off when pulled up 2 out in race won by Park Lane Princess (11-4) at Huntingdon 2m sll hcp hdl 0-90 (5) gf in Apr, 10 ran.
Teviot Brig 9-1 (10-5) Prominent, led 5th, headed approaching 3 out, weakened after last, 5th of 15, 18l behind Roadworthy (10-9) at Ayr 2m cnd hcp hdl (5) hvy in Dec.
Scurry Dancer (FR) 80-1 (11-7) Mid-division, weakened 8th and pulled up 3 out in race won by The Entomologist (11-7) at Perth 2m beg chs (4) gf in Aug, 9 ran.
Red Dawn (IRE) 28-1 (9-10) Keen early, mistakes and in touch, lost place 8th, tailed off, 5th of 11, well behind Hollows Mist (10-0) at Newcastle 2m 4f hcp chs 0-95 (5) gf.
