held up towards rear, headway to mid-division approaching 4th, went 3rd 2 out, no chance with leading duo, dropped to 4th close home
chased leader, led approaching 2nd, joined and bumped 2 out, ridden and headed last, rallied gamely close home, just failed
mistake 5th, always towards rear, tailed off
chased leaders, hit 5th, went 2nd soon after, hit 3 out and lost 2nd, weakened before next, tailed off
mistake 2nd, always towards rear, tailed off
held up well in rear, mistake 4th, steady headway headway after 3 out, weakened next
took keen hold, chased leaders, went 2nd approaching 2nd until before 4th, chased leaders, went 2nd again 3 out, challenged and went right 2 out, ridden to lead last, held on, all out
in touch, not fluent 5th, soon driven along, switched right between last 2, 4th and held when fell last
chased leaders, went 2nd approaching 4th until after next, went 2nd again 3 out, weakened next
raced wide towards rear, driven and struggling before 3 out, left modest 4th last, went 3rd close home
led unitl approaching 2nd weakened rapidly, pulled up and dismounted after next, lame
Nonrunner
Rupert Bear has won three of his last four starts but the handicapper may have his measure now and ANNA'S ARCH is arguably even more progressive. Alan Swinbank's course winner was always going well at Sedgefield subsequently and can defy a 12lb higher mark to complete the hat-trick. Sir Tantallus Hawk would have a chance on his best form while Livvy Inn wasn't winning out of turn at Hexham last time and Grant Cockburn again takes off 7lb. Claude Carter's winning run came to an end at Musselburgh last time, however, and King's Chorister has been below par so far this term.
Rupert Bear 3-1fav (11-0) Held up towards rear, good headway after 2 out, led last, stayed on strongly, won at Hexham 2m hcp hdl 0-120 (4) hvy in Nov beating Stanley Bridge (11-0) by 10l, 7 ran.
Anna's Arch (IRE) 11-10fav (11-9) Pressed leader, not fluent 5th, mistake 3 out, soon led, not fluent 2 out, ridden clear flat, won at Sedgefield 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-100 (5) gd in Nov beating Agricultural (11-8) by 9l, 13 ran.
Sir Tantallus Hawk 4-1 (10-13) Held up in touch, weakened before 2 out, pulled up before last, in a race won by Locked Inthepocket (10-7) at Perth 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-125 (3) sft in May, 8 ran.
Master Murphy (IRE) 6-1 (10-9) Mid-division, headway 3 out, soon chasing leaders, ridden to challenge after 2 out, stayed on under pressure, 2nd of 9, 3l behind Nodform Richard (11-2) at Hexham 2m 4f NH mdn hdl (5) gd in Mar.
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 in Nov.
Lucky Sunny (IRE) 3-1 (11-12) Held up in rear, mistake 1st, headway to chase leaders when mistake and unseated rider 3 out, in a race won by Swift Arrow (11-6) at Kelso 2m 1f hcp chs 0-115 (4) sft in Nov, 9 ran.
Rhymers Ha' 9-4fav (11-2) Held up towards rear, pushed along before 4 out, soon weakened, tailed off, pulled up before 3 out, in a race won by Mitchell's Way (11-9) at Carlisle 2m 3f nov hcp hdl 0-110 (4) sft in Nov, 7 ran.
Leith Walk (IRE) 4-1fav (11-4) Led, pushed along before 3 out, headed 2 out, weakened before last, 6th of 9, 30l behind Hunters Belt (11-5) at Kelso 2m hcp hdl 0-115 (4) hvy in Oct.
Anitopia 12-1 (11-0) Tracked leader, challenged 5th, led 3 out, headed last, one pace flat, 5th of 14, 3 1/2l behind Bonnie Burnett (10-7) at Ayr 2m mdn hdl (5) sft in Nov.
Livvy Inn (USA) 85-40 (11-5) Tracked leaders, led before and blundered last, kept on, driven out, won at Hexham 2m hcp hdl 0-95 (4) sft in Nov beating Goat Castle (10-12) by 1 1/2l, 8 ran.
Cassius (IRE) 40-1 (10-0) Chased leader until after 4th, soon in rear, tailed off and pulled up before 7th, in a race won by Parson's Punch (11-0) at Musselburgh 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gd in Nov, 10 ran.
King's Chorister 33-1 (11-3) Mid-division, headway 2nd, ridden after 3 out, jumped left and no extra last, 7th of 13, 31l behind Anna's Arch (11-9) at Sedgefield 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-100 (5) gd in Nov.
