held up towards rear, headway approaching 3 out, kept on from last
towards rear, headway approaching 10th, no impression from 2 out
tracked leaders, lost place from 10th
mid-division, headway from 5 out, led last, kept on well
towards rear when blundered badly and unseated rider 5th
close up, led 3 out, ridden and headed last, no extra when lost 2nd towards finish
towards rear, pushed along 8th, blundered 2 out, soon weakened
in rear, struggling from 8th, pulled up before 4 out
always towards rear, pulled up before last
led to 2nd, reminders approaching 12th, weakened next
led from 2nd, headed 3 out, kept on from last, went 2nd towards finish
Ferdy Murphy's VIEL GLUCK has had his jumping problems but went much better when a creditable third at Ayr last week and he can build on that effort and open his account here off the same mark with the main dangers rated as Hurricane Jack and Teerie Express. The last mentioned just got the better of Kinkeel from the in-form Tony Carroll stable last time and he is likely to find this tougher under his penalty today so he may be best watched. Rexmehead has been running consistently well and should be thereabouts again but he was well held off the same mark that he races off today at Sedgefield last time. Martin Todhunter's Manoubi ran better when a good second behind Yankee Holiday at Ayr last week and he has an obvious chance off a 1lb lower mark today but he has not won for some time and may be booked for a place at best. Janal unseated his rider in that race at Ayr and is hard to recommend, while Art Gallery has struggled against the handicapper since winning at Cartmel in August. Lucinda Russell's Hurricane Jack has solid claims on the pick of his form but needs to brush up his jumping and preference is for Viel Gluck, who looks to have got his jumping problems sorted out now and he gets the vote.
Viel Gluck (IRE) 13-2 (11-9) Held up towards rear, headway 4 out, went 3rd approaching last, kept on, no impression, 3rd of 7, 6l behind Yankee Holiday (10-13) at Ayr 2m 4f hcp ch 0-95 (5) gf.
Hurricane Jack 9-2 (10-11) Tracked leaders, in 4th and one pace when fell 4 out, in a race won by Yankee Holiday (10-13) at Ayr 2m 4f hcp ch 0-95 (5) gf, 7 ran.
Art Gallery 11-1 (10-9) Tracked leaders, lost ground 10th, weakend 13th, 4th of 6, 37l behind Commanche Dream (10-7) at Fakenham 3m beg chase (4) sft in Feb.
Manoubi 8-1 (10-10) Tracked leaders, chased winner appraoching last, always held, 2nd of 7, 4 1/2l behind Yankee Holiday (10-13) at Ayr 2m 4f hcp ch 0-95 (5) gf.
Rexmehead (IRE) 10-1 (10-7) Mid-division, headway 5th, driven along in 4th after 3 out, one pace and no impression next, 5th of 12, 12l behind Teerie Express (10-6) at Sedgefield 2m 4f hcp chs 0-95 (5) sft.
Reasonably Sure (IRE) 13-2 (10-12) Close up, weakening when blundered 3 out, pulled up before next, in a race won by Tully Cross (10-12) at Hexham 3m 1f stks (5) sft in Oct '08, 7 ran.
Janal (IRE) 15-2 (10-3) Led to 11th, in 4th and weakening when blundered and unseated rider last, in a race won by Yankee Holiday (10-13) at Ayr 2m 4f hcp ch 0-95 (5) gf, 7 ran.
Contendo 33-1 (10-12) In touch, lost place 6th, tailed off when pulled up before 8th, in a race won by Toy Gun (11-8) at Newcastle 2m 4f hcp chs 0-90 (5) sft in Jan, 12 ran.
Lusento (IRE) 20-1 (10-0) Mistake 1st, behind, never dangerous, pulled up 15th, in a race won by Star Beat (11-8) at Catterick 3m 1f nov hcp chs 0-100 (4) gd, 11 ran.
Day du Roy (FR) 33-1 (10-0) Chased leaders, weakened after 10th, tailed off, 6th of 12, 46l behind Sir Ian (11-3) at Stratford 2m 4f hcp ch 0-110 (4) gd.
Tully Hill 20-1 (9-12) Led, soon clear, headed after 8th, led again 9th, headed approaching 12th, ridden after 4 out, weakened from next, 6th of 11, 18l behind Star Beat (11-8) at Catterick 3m 1f nov hcp chs 0-100 (4) gd.
Teerie Express 10-1 (10-6) Led until not fluent and headed 3rd, stayed prominent, led on long run to 3 out, 2 lengths clear when hit last, kept on flat, all out, won at Sedgefield 2m 4f hcp chs 0-95 (5) sft beating Kinkeel (10-6) by 1 1/2l, 12 ran.
