held up in touch in mid-division, not fluent 11th, outpaced after 4 out, weakened from 3 out, tailed off
soon tracking leaders, outpaced 4 out, 6th when fell next
held up, headway from 13th, challenged 3 out, led before last, driven out
prominent, mistake 12th, led 3 out, headed before last, no extra final 100 yards
led 1st until 3 out, weakened after next, tailed off
held up in touch, jumped slowly 8th, went close 2nd last, stayed on flat, no impression on winner final 150 yards
in rear, several slow jumps, struggling 13th, behind after 4 out, plugged on to take modest 4th latter stages, no chance with leaders
led until 1st, prominent, not fluent 2nd, lost place before 10th, pulled up before 13th
Samson Collonges has won three times over fences, all on this track, including a neck success over today's rival Filbert Fox earlier this month with Esme Rides A Gaine 6l back in third. The runner-up is slightly better off so there should be very little between them again though this looks a slightly better race. Royal Sam is still a maiden under Rules after 26 career starts but he's mainly competed at a higher level and has dropped to his lowest rating. GIBBSTOWN went up 15lb for a very easy victory in heavy ground at Ayr but still managed to run well in a better race at Newcastle on much quicker going when Dingo Bay was behind. Back in this grade and on ground she'll enjoy she looks the one to be on.
Farm Pixie (IRE) 4-1 (10-7) Tracked leaders, went 2nd at 4th, lost place 11th, rallied next, weakened 5 out, modest 4th, last of 4, 35l behind Frank The Slink (10-10) at Newcastle 3m hcp chs 0-120 (4) sft.
Dingo Bay 3-1fav (11-3) Tracked leaders in 3rd, with leaders 2nd, ridden after 5 out, no extra from last, 4th of 6, 12l behind Sharney Sike (11-5) at Newcastle 3m hcp ch 0-110 (4) gd.
Gibbstown (IRE) 11-2 (10-10) Prominent, ridden before 3 out, went 2nd 2 out, no extra and lost 2nd place run-in, 3rd of 6, 4 1/2l behind Sharney Sike (11-5) at Newcastle 3m hcp ch 0-110 (4) gd.
Mr Chippy (IRE) 9-2 (11-6) Always towards rear, tailed off and pulled up after 4 out, in a race won by Dingo Bay (10-8) at Newcastle 2m 4f hcp chs 0-100 (5) hvy in Jan, 8 ran.
Mannered 22-1 (10-1) Tracked winner until before 3 out, soon weakened, 7th of 10, well behind Boris The Blade (9-10) at Sedgefield 3m 3f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) sft.
Samson Collonges (FR) 5-1 (9-13) Held up towards rear, headway before 4 out, went 3rd before 3 out, went 2nd before last, led last, soon hung right, all out, won at Hexham 3m 1f hcp chs 0-100 (5) sft beating Filbert Fox (10-0) by nk, 10 ran.
Esme Rides A Gaine 14-1 (10-6) Towards rear, outpaced and detached 5 out, headway before 2 out, kept on well from last, 3rd of 10, 6l behind Samson Collonges (9-13) at Hexham 3m 1f hcp chs 0-100 (5) sft.
Filbert Fox (IRE) 12-1 (10-0) Led before 4th, headed 6th remained close up, led again 15th, headed last, soon hung right, kept on towards finish, just held, 2nd of 10, nk behind Samson Collonges (9-13) at Hexham 3m 1f hcp chs 0-100 (5) sft.
Royal Sam (IRE) 7-2 (11-1) Tracked winner until 6 out, soon regained 2nd, ridden before last, no impression, 3rd of 6, 7l behind Lady Of Verona (10-2) at Hexham 3m 1f nov hcp chs 0-115 (4) sft.
