chased leaders, lost place from 10th, well behind after 14th, pulled up after
held up in rear, mistake 6th, headway from 11th, remote 4th after 14th, left 3rd next, no impression, lost 3rd before last
towards rear, mistake and reminder 3rd, not fluent 5th or 7th, closed 9th, slow and lost place next, well behind 14th, pulled up after
chased leaders, lost place after 5th, left remote 4th 3 out, went 3rd before last, no impression
led, pecked badly 9th, mistake 13th, headed when fell 3 out
chased leaders, modest 3rd after 14th, left 2nd 3 out, closed to about 5 lengths last, unable to make further gains on winner flat
held up, headway after 5th, lost place before 8th, pulled up before 13th
mid-division, mistake 9th, closed next, weakened 13th, behind next, pulled up after
held up, slow 1st, struggling in last when mistake 9th, pulled up after 12th
chased leader, ridden before 9th, led when left clear 3 out, reduced lead but still about 5 lengths in front last, plugged on
Smuggler's Stash was eventually beaten a long way behind Square Viviani here last month but was returning from a very long break and only weakened on the run-in. That was the winner's first victory since arriving from France last year but he clearly loves heavy ground and a 7lb rise shouldn't pose too much of a problem. Mcginty's Dream completed a double last winter and will be better for last month's reappearance over hurdles but the veteran LOWANBEHOLD looks the one to beat. Sandy Forster's grey hasn't won since landing a Class 3 at Kelso in April last year but has dropped to a lowly mark as a consequence and bounced back to form over 4m here last month. Multipede has never won but made a promising chasing debut at Kelso in October.
Smuggler's Stash (IRE) 11-1 (12-4) Led, soon joined, headed when mistake 10th, remained prominent, ridden 2 out, weakened approaching last, 3rd of 6, 28l behind Square Viviani (11-7) at Hexham 3m hcp (5) hvy in Nov.
Mcginty's Dream (IRE) 25-1 (11-3) Held up in rear, headway halfway, chased leaders 4 out, weakened before 2 out, tailed off, 8th of 10, dist behind No Trumps (11-12) at Hexham 2m 7f hcp (5) hvy in Nov.
Square Viviani (FR) 11-2 (11-7) Chased leaders, slow 1st, mistake 11th, driven after next, slow 13th, rallied 3 out, led after next, stayed on strongly (2 fences omitted), won at Hexham 3m hcp (5) hvy in Nov beating Arizona Bound (10-10) by 18l, 6 ran.
Lowanbehold (IRE) 4-1fav (10-9) Led, headed 3rd, close up, chased winner 19th, ridden 2 out, led soon after next, headed run in, stayed on one pace, 2nd of 10, 2 1/4l behind Dontdelay (10-0) at Hexham 4m hcp (4) hvy in Nov.
Asking For Answers (IRE) 9-1 (11-3) In touch, chased leaders halfway, slow 6 out, weakened next, 5th of 12, 32 1/4l behind Gatacre Street (10-7) at Newcastle 2m 7f hcp (4) hvy in Nov.
Pc Dixon 15-2 (10-13) Held up in touch, some headway after 4 out, never reached leaders, weakened after next, tailed off, 6th of 7, 29 1/2l behind Urbanist (12-7) at Market Rasen 3m hcp (4) sft in Nov.
Misdflight (IRE) 9-2 (11-5) Raced keenly and wide, tracked leader until 5th, chased leaders until 17th, weakened 3 out, 5th of 7, 19 3/4l behind Skyhill (10-12) at Sedgefield 3m 2f hcp (5) sft in Nov.
Multipede 17-2 (10-4) Held up in rear, headway 12th, chased leaders 4 out, ridden to challenge next, weakened last, 4th of 9, 10 3/4l behind Oscar Ceremony (11-3) at Kelso 2m 7f hcp (4) gs in Oct.
Arizona Bound (IRE) 12-1 (10-0) In touch, headway 6th, ridden and not fluent 2 out, soon weakened, tailed off, 5th of 10, 37 1/2l behind Dontdelay (10-0) at Hexham 4m hcp (4) hvy in Nov.
Westend Theatre (IRE) 10-1 (10-0) Mid-division, headway 4 out, chased leaders next, stayed on into 3rd, never able to challenge, 3rd of 12, 17 1/4l behind Gatacre Street (10-7) at Newcastle 2m 7f hcp (4) hvy in Nov.
