tracked leaders, chased winner after 3 out, not fluent next, one pace in 3rd before last, ridden and kept on flat
led, ridden when hard pressed after 2 out, headed narrowly last, every chance when rider dropped whip flat, rallied to regain lead near finish
tracked leaders, ridden after 2 out, kept on same pace, no impression in 4th before last
tracked winner, lost place after 3 out, weakened next, tailed off
held up in 5th, tracked leading pair before 2 out, challenged between last 2, led narrowly last, ridden and kept on flat, headed near finish
always in rear, struggling 6th, soon lost touch, tailed off
MAJOR IVAN was having his first run since May when a close-up third over 3m at Perth last month. Dropping back in trip should help him here and he will probably be too strong for recent Hexham maiden winner Oscar Blue of level weights, though the latter still has a bit of scope. John Williams wasn't disgraced when third on his hurdling debut at Carlisle in May and can't be ignored but the others appear to have plenty of their plate.
Major Ivan (IRE) 3-1fav (11-5) Held up, hampered 3rd, headway 9th, went 2nd 3 out until 2 out, not fluent last, one pace flat, 3rd of 5, 4 1/2l behind Tradewinds (11-5) at Perth 3m (4) gs in Sep.
Oscar Blue (IRE) 6-4fav (11-0) Tracked leaders in 3rd, in 4th and outpaced before 2 out, kept on to lead run-in, won at Hexham 2m 4f mdn (5) gs in Oct beating Fairy Theatre (10-7) by nk, 12 ran.
Ha'penny Woods (IRE) 40-1 (11-1) Towards rear, headway into mid-division 3rd, lost place 6th, no danger after, 9th of 13, 23 3/4l behind Looking Well (11-1) at Newcastle 2m 4f (4) gs in Mar.
John Williams (IRE) 16-1 (10-12) Keen tracked leaders, went 2nd 3 out, led soon after, headed 2 out, kept on one pace, lost 2nd close home, 3rd of 8, 9 1/2l behind Wolf Sword (10-12) at Carlisle 2m 3f (4) gs in May.
Sunny West (IRE) 11-4fav (12-0) Held up, 6th early, distant 6th halfway, chased leaders but no impression from over 2f out, soon no extra and eased, tailed off, 6th of 8, dist behind Danielle's Journey (11-7) at Down Royal 2m Yielding - Soft in Mar.
Lucydoli 5-1 (11-7) Hdwy aft 4 out; wknd app 2 out, 4th of 5, 18 3/4l behind Chandos (12-0) at Mosshouses 3m mdn gd in May.
