led to 4 out, lost place after next, soon outpaced, no chance with front pair from 2 out
held up in touch, headway 3 out, never on terms, ridden and weakened before next
pressed leader, led 4 out, clear next to before 2 out, ridden and hard pressed between last 2, headed when mistake last, held flat, kept on when gifted race towards finish
mid-division, tracked leading pair 5th, went 2nd after 3 out, close up next, poised to challenge on bit between last 2, led last, soon ridden, in command when carried head high and idled badly flat, headed and threw race away towards finish
tracked leading pair to 5th, struggling next, behind from 4 out
mid-division, ridden to chase leaders briefly after 4 out, weakened next, tailed off when pulled up before last
held up in rear, outpaced before 3 out, never dangerous
Deep Resolve has won twice at Hexham and this is another stiff track. But he must carry a double penalty in this and may find the task beyond him. Medicine Hat was easy to back on his hurdling debut at Catterick but was beaten less than a length. That looked a weak contest but Scrafton had attracted plenty of support and was in the lead when unseating his rider at halfway. The latter then did a lot better at Wetherby and may have scope for further improvement but newcomer STANLEY (NAP) could prove a cut above these. He won twice on the Flat in Germany on soft ground last year and is reportedly the best of his yard's juvenile crop.
Deep Resolve (IRE) 7-2 (10-7) Made all, clear before last, kept on well, won at Hexham 2m hcp hdl 0-115 (4) hvy in Dec beating Walser (10-11) by 4l, 6 ran.
Larmor (FR) (9-1) 9th of 15, 4 1/2l behind Rochefort (8-12) at Compiegne(FR) 1m 3yo hcp sft in Oct (flat).
Medicine Hat 66-1 (10-7) Mid-division, headway when not fluent 3rd, left in lead next, headed 2 out, every chance flat, stayed on, held towards finish, 2nd of 16, 3/4l behind Cooking Fat (10-7) at Catterick 2m 3yo hdl (4) gd in Dec.
Scrafton 7-2 (11-0) Held up in touch, headway 5th, went 2nd before 3 out, effort when mistake next, led between last 2, ridden and headed flat, no extra towards finish, 2nd of 13, 3 1/2l behind Seamour (11-5) at Wetherby 2m 3yo hdl (4) sft in Dec.
Son Of Feyan (IRE) 40-1 (10-7) Disputed 2nd, lost place after 3 out, outpaced before next, no chance with front trio, 4th of 6, 26l behind El Beau (11-5) at Sedgefield 2m 1f 3yo hdl (4) sft in Nov.
Stanley (GER) (8-13) won at Dortmund(GER) 1m 1f 3yo hcp gd in Sep, 8 ran (flat).
Mystic Princess (IRE) 14-1 (9-6) Raced in 4th, dropped to last from 4f out, dropped behind from over 2f out, eased from over 1f out, last of 5, 37l behind Panama Hat (9-13) at Fairyhouse 1m 2f 3yo hcp 47-75 gf in Jul (flat).
Magic Shoes (IRE) 20-1 (9-9) Always behind, pulled up 2 out, in a race won by Deep Resolve (10-12) at Hexham 2m 3yo mdn hdl (5) hvy in Nov, 8 ran.
