jumped well, made all, hard ridden when challenged after last, held on gamely flat
chased leaders, reminders and lost place 5th, soon struggling in rear, no danger after
chase leaders, outpaced 2 out, 4 lengths down in 4th when hit last, stayed on to go 3rd flat, no impression on leading pair
held up in rear, headway and in touch 4 out, chased leading pair next, outpaced 2 out, ridden and lost 3rd flat, soon weakened
tracked winner throughout, mistake 3 out, switched right to challenge flat, soon ridden and every chance, held near finish
held up towards rear on outside, outpaced 8th, weakened 3 out, pulled up before last
held up behind, headway to track leading pair 5th, lost place 3 out, soon weakened, pulled up before last
BLACKS BRIDGE is taken to complete his hat-trick, possibly at the main expense of Stormin Exit and Quicuyo. The selection represents the powerful Howard Johnson team and has been given plenty of time since winning at Newcastle in January. He's likely to have much faster ground to contend with here as well as a 9lb higher mark but neither factor is expected to trouble him now that the penny has dropped. More problematical is the opposition as this is a well contested race and Stormin Exit may provide the chief opposition. Jim Goldie's charge made a winning debut over fences before running creditably at Ayr last month. There should be more to come from the gelding and he's feared. Quicuyo is more experienced but has still had just the five starts over fences and has shown a consistent level of form; he could go well with his yard amongst the winners if the market gives out the right signals on his return from a lay-off. That's not to say that the remainder are forlorn hopes by any means but Blacks Bridge appears to be the one to beat.
Kilmackilloge 10-1 (10-5) Tracked leaders, ridden and lost place 9th, behind and pulled up before 3 out, in a race won by Pepsyrock (10-4) at Ayr 2m hcp chs (2) gd in Apr, 8 ran.
Open de L'Isle (FR) 5-2fav (11-1) Led, headed and not fluent 10th, lost place approaching next, 7th of 8, 47l behind Jimmy Bond (10-5) at Newcastle 2m 4f hcp chs 0-130 (3) sft.
Ormello (FR) 10-1 (11-3) Held up behind, headway to track leaders 4 out, ridden and outpaced 2 out, soon weakened, 5th of 10, 18l behind Turtle Spirit (10-11) at Kelso 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) sft.
Quicuyo (GER) 5-2fav (11-5) Close up, every chance 3 out, one pace when hit last, 3rd of 6, 6l behind Polar Gunner (10-12) at Ayr 2m hcp chs 0-135 (3) sft in Feb '09.
Stormin Exit (IRE) 15-8fav (11-0) Held up, headway 4 out, hit 2 out, ridden to chase winner last, no impression, 2nd of 7, 5l behind Fred Bojangals (10-5) at Ayr 2m hcp chs 0-135 (3) gd in Feb.
Tartan Snow 14-1 (10-12) Held up behind, went 3rd before 6th, ridden and no impression 2 out, 12 lengths down last, kept on flat, no chance with leading pair, 3rd of 5, 13l behind Bedlam Boy (11-6) at Kelso 2m 1f nov chs (2) sft.
Blacks Bridge (IRE) 11-4 (11-3) Held up 4th, headway 4 out, led 2 out, hard pressed when left 6 lengths clear last, eased towards finish, won at Newcastle 2m nov hcp chs 0-115 (4) hvy in Jan beating Pamak D'airy (11-5) by 6l, 6 ran.
