towards rear, blundered and unseated rider 5 out
held up in rear, tailed off from 6th, pulled up before 4 out
tracked leaders, ridden and outpaced approaching 3 out, no impression
made all, clear approaching 2 out, eased near finish
held up towards rear, headway approaching 4 out, chased winner approaching 3 out, no impression
held up in touch, weakened 4 out
held up mid-division, weakened 4 out, pulled up before last
tracked leaders, weakened 5 out, pulled up before last
behind, ridden 3 out, never dangerous
A fascinating contest with some talented horses lining up, of whom we'll take REINDEER DIPPIN in preference to Riguez Dancer and Drever Route. Donald McCain's gelding started favourite for a decent contest at Carlisle in November before falling early on but in the hope that his in-form trainer has ironed out any jumping issues this decent hurdler is given a chance to recoup losses. Drever Route rates a big player from the Howard Johnson yard having taken second behind a promising sort at Kelso last time. The winner apart that race didn't look out of the ordinary, but this gelding has always looked a chaser and should benefit from that debut experience when jumping proficiently. Riguez Dancer is amongst the highest rated of these on hurdles form and merits consideration, despite having also departed on his chasing debut last time. Given almost a fortnight to recover from that incident,Ferdy Murphy's five-year-old should put up a smarter jumping performance and will enjoy the likely conditions. Sir Boreas Hawk was rated the same as Riguez Dancer over hurdles and so he too must be given a chance, particularly if the market speaks in that one's favour. The gelding reappeared from over two years off in a decent handicap hurdle last time and ran as well as could have been expected and so, with improvement likely, may go well if taking to the larger obstacles. Those mentioned should really dominate proceedings in an interesting contest with narrow preference going to Reindeer Dippin.
Barons Knight 100-1 (10-12) Slowly away, in rear, lost touch 4th, tailed off from 2 out, last of 10, well behind Macchiato (9-12) at Sedgefield 2m 1f nov hdl (4) gs in May '06.
Byron Bay 18-1 (10-4) Led, headed approaching 3 out, outpaced when hit next, soon weakened, 9th of 13, well behind Wensleydale Web (11-4) at Cartmel 2m 1f nov hcp hdl 0-100 (4) sft in Aug.
Drever Route (IRE) 9-1 (11-0) Tracked leaders, outpaced 4 out, ridden to chase winner approaching last, no impression, 2nd of 4, 9l behind Little Josh (11-0) at Kelso 2m 1f beg chs (4) hvy in Nov.
Reindeer Dippin 9-4fav (11-2) Fell 1st, in a race won by Bedlam Boy (11-2) at Carlisle 2m beg chs (4) sft in Nov, 7 ran.
Riguez Dancer 4-1 (11-1) Held up, fell 3rd, in a race won by April San (10-10) at Sedgefield 2m 4f beg chs (5) sft in Nov, 8 ran.
Sir Boreas Hawk 12-1 (11-3) Held up towards rear, mid-division halfway, ridden after 2 out, weakened flat, 7th of 13, 8l behind Nampour (10-12) at Aintree 2m hcp hdl 0-140 (2) gd in Oct.
Skull Inn (IRE) 125-1 (10-11) Always towards rear, 8th of 12, well behind Hold Fast (11-0) at Musselburgh 2m 4f mdn hdl (5) gs in Nov.
Sotovik (IRE) 13-2 (11-4) Fell 1st, in a race won by Waterski (10-4) at Kelso 3m 1f nov hcp chs 0-110 (4) gs in Nov, 10 ran.
Political Pendant 66-1 (10-5) Held up in touch, weakened from 4 out, 5th of 8, 39l behind Comhla Ri Coig (11-1) at Carlisle 2m 4f nov chs (3) hvy in Nov.
