tracked leader to 3rd, weakened before 2 out
held up towards rear, good headway after 2 out, led last, stayed on strongly
led to 6th, tracked leader, weakened after 2 out
held up in touch, ridden before last, kept on to take 4th place run-in, no impression
tracked leaders and keen, led 6th, ridden and headed last, no extra
held up in rear, outpaced 6th, headway before last, kept on to take 3rd place run-in, no impression
tracked leaders, ridden and went 2nd before last, weakened soon after
Nonrunner
RUPERT BEAR landed a novice hurdle here in May and bounced back to winning form on heavy ground at Carlisle earlier this month. That was only his seventh start over timber and with more to come and just a 4lb rise to contend with he can go in again. Ritsi wasn't far behind in that Carlisle event and must go close with a pull in the weights though the winner idled on the run-in and won with a bit in hand. Stanley Bridge has won four times over timber but has climbed the weights as a consequence and has been raised 2lb despite being beaten 12l at Kelso last time. Claude Carter is back in his correct grade after being well beaten at Musselburgh but he's looking high enough in the handicap after his two victories at Market Rasen in the summer.
Ruff Diamond (USA) 28-1 (11-7) Led after 1st, headed 5th, lost place after 8th, weakened after 3 out, tailed off, last of 7, well behind Malin Bay (10-11) at Kelso 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-120 (4) gd in Apr.
Rupert Bear 7-4fav (11-4) Held up in rear, pushed along 6th, soon outpaced, headway before last, led soon after, kept on, driven out when idled towards finish, won at Carlisle 2m 1f nov hcp hdl 0-110 (4) hvy beating Fine Kingdom (11-2) by 3/4l, 5 ran.
Sam Lord 14-1 (10-0) Mid-division on inside, outpaced 3 out, chased leaders briefly under pressure before next, weakened last, 9th of 12, 27l behind Allow Me (11-1) at Catterick 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-135 (3) gs in Jan.
Ritsi 11-1 (11-7) With leader, led 6th, headed 2 out, ridden and every chance before last, kept on, 3rd of 5, 1 3/4l behind Rupert Bear (11-4) at Carlisle 2m 1f nov hcp hdl 0-110 (4) hvy.
Stanley Bridge 9-2 (10-9) Tracked leaders, mistake 3 out, ridden to chase winner before last, kept on and no impression, 2nd of 9, 12l behind Hunters Belt (11-5) at Kelso 2m hcp hdl 0-115 (4) hvy in Oct.
Heart O' The West (IRE) 3-1 (10-6) Held up in touch, pushed along before 2 out, weakened before last, last of 5, 24l behind Rupert Bear (11-4) at Carlisle 2m 1f nov hcp hdl 0-110 (4) hvy.
Mootabar (IRE) 9-1 (10-1) Held up towards rear, headway to go 4th before 2 out, soon weakened, 4th of 13, 41l behind Trojan Sun (10-12) at Southwell 2m 4f nov hcp hdl 0-105 (4) sft in Apr.
Claude Carter 20-1 (10-8) Always behind, tailed off, 8th of 9, 28l behind Nine Stories (11-6) at Musselburgh 2m hcp hdl 0-130 (3) gd.
