made all, unchallenged
held up in touch, ridden and weakened from 2 out
held up, outpaced 6th, headway after 3 out to track leader approaching last, ridden and one pace flat
tracked leaders, ridden approaching 2 out, weakened flat
held up in touch, ridden approaching 4 out, kept on one pace from approaching last
Sedgefield winner PRESQUE PERDRE lost no caste in defeat at Newcastle last month and George Moore's gelding looks to have been found a suitable opportunity to resume winning ways in a race where opposition looks thin on the ground with the main threats rated as Crackerjack Lad and Catai. Peter Monteith's five-year-old is better than he showed when pulled up here last time and has to be considered on the promise shown on his earlier effort at Ayr. Turtle Spirit is less exposed than most of these after just three starts in bumpers and could be of interest on his hurdling debut. Neither Executive Xpress nor Victorias make any appeal on what they have shown so far and of more interest is Lucinda Russell's Wetherby bumper winner Crackerjack Lad, who ran creditably last time over hurdles. Presque Perdre has easily the best form on offer though and he is hard to oppose.
Presque Perdre 10-11fav (11-8) Led, hit 4th, not fluent 6th, joined 3 out, ridden next, soon under pressure, headed after last, no extra towards finish, 2nd of 9, 1 3/4l behind Dancing Dik (10-9) at Newcastle 2m 4f nh nov hdl (4) gf in Mar.
Catai 12-1 (10-6) Tracked leaders and mistakes, weakened from 4th and behind when pulled up before next, in a race won by Doeslessthanme (11-13) at Kelso 2m 2f nh nov hdl (4) gd, 11 ran.
Crackerjack Lad (IRE) 16-1 (11-0) In rear, behind halfway, last of 5, 31l behind Woody Waller (11-0) at Ayr 2m nh nov hdl (4) sft in Mar.
Executive Xpress 28-1 (11-7) Mid-division, weakened before 3 out, 7th of 16, well behind Oh Yah Dancer (11-1) at Newcastle 2m 6f nov hcp hdl 0-95 (5) gd in Mar.
Turtle Spirit 12-1 (11-1) Tracked leaders, ridden over 4f out, outpaced over 2f out, 3rd of 10, 10l behind Witherspoon (10-13) at Ayr 2m NH flat (6) sft in Mar.
Victorias 100-1 (10-0) Chased leaders, effort after 3f out, driven and weakened approaching last, 7th of 14, 19l behind Painted Sky (10-12) at Sedgefield 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gf.