in touch in 4th, went 3rd at 8th, blundered 15th, chased winner before 2 out, weakened run-in
behind, struggling from 10th, tailed off when pulled up before last
tracked leaders, led before 3 out, ridden run-in, kept on
led, soon clear, hung right before 4th, mistake 4 out, headed before 3 out, weakening when fell 2 out
towards rear, jumped right 2nd, jumped slow next, soon in rear, struggling when jumped right 11th, tailed off when pulled up before 14th
tracked leaders, went 3rd before last, chased winner flat, stayed on towards finish
AGGIE'S LAD hasn't run since May and has to concede weight all round. Connections also wouldn't want the ground to get any softer but Alison Hamilton's 10-year-old has the best form in this and should make a winning return. Commercial Express is another back in action following a lay-off but could be the one for forecast-backers even though Sacred Mountain won a point-to-point at Alnwick in December. Doc Row looks best of the rest with Nevertika and Risk Assesment both failing to finish in the same race between the flags last month.
Aggie's lad (IRE) 9-1 (12-0) Towards rear, headway 13th, weakened 17th, 6th of 14, 6l behind Southwestern (12-0) at Stratford 3m 4f hts chs (2) gd in May.
Commercial Express (IRE) 9-2fav (11-9) Towards rear, jumped slow 2nd, effort 4 out, never dangerous, 5th of 11, 31l behind Amicelli (11-9) at Cartmel 3m 2f hts chs (6) gd in Jun.
Doc Row (IRE) 7-4 (12-3) Led til hdd aft 3 out; sn btn, 4th of 11, 14l behind Bafana Boy (12-3) at Hexham Points 3m ptp gf in May.
Nevertika (FR) 8-1 (12-5) Ref to race, in a race won by Top Dressing (12-5) at Alnwick 3m ptp gs in Jan, 13 ran.
Risk Assesment (IRE) 15-2 (12-5) Fell 3, in a race won by Top Dressing (12-5) at Alnwick 3m ptp gs in Jan, 13 ran.
Sacred Mountain 6-4 (12-6) Ap; led 2 out; stayed on wl, won at Alnwick 3m ptp sft in Dec beating Master Sebastian (12-0) by 2 1/2l, 9 ran.