held up in rear and keen, headway before 3 out, kept on
tracked leaders in 3rd, went 2nd 5 out, led after 4 out, clear 3 out, stayed on strongly
chased leader, pushed along before 3 out, ridden before 2 out, soon chased winner, kept on and no impression
led, headed after 4 out, ridden and weakened before 2 out
towards rear, pushed along before 3 out, never dangerous
in touch in 5th, ridden after 4 out, soon weakened
tracked leaders in 4th, lost place after 6th, mistake next,ridden before 2 out, kept on same pace
Recent Downpatrick third Call Box wasn't beaten far off today's mark in a better race at Hexham in October. This is his trip and he shouldn't be far away while Divers has fallen to an attractive mark, though is probably still better over fences and was behind Merchant of Dubai in Strongpoint's race here last month. Damascus Steel and Unex Canaletto have a bit to prove now and Biggar is a maiden who is unproven over this distance. LOS NADIS showed he was no back number when beaten less than two lengths over 3m1f here in November. He may get an easy lead in this and could take some pegging back.
Divers (FR) 12-1 (11-10) Tracked winner, ridden and weakened before last, 5th of 8, 31l behind Strongpoint (11-7) at Musselburgh 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-125 (3) gd in Dec.
Call Box (IRE) 9-1 (11-9) Held up, 4th halfway, 3rd before 5th, no impression leaders after 3 out, ridden 2 out, kept on one pace, 3rd of 5, 10l behind Arnaud (11-5) at Downpatrick 2m 2f hdl gd in Dec.
Los Nadis (GER) 4-1 (11-9) Tracked winner until before 5th, lost place from 9th, 4th of 6, 26l behind Lord Of Drums (10-12) at Musselburgh 2m 4f (4) gd in Dec.
Damascus Steel (IRE) 18-1 (11-5) Close up, ridden 3 out, hit and weakened next, pulled up last, in a race won by Bogside (11-0) at Kelso 2m hcp hdl 0-120 (4) gs in Dec, 13 ran.
Merchant Of Dubai 4-1 (10-13) Held up rear division, headway before 3 out, ridden before 2 out, soon weakened, 4th of 8, 29l behind Strongpoint (11-7) at Musselburgh 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-125 (3) gd in Dec.
Biggar (IRE) 7-4 (10-7) Disputed led, driven and lost place after 4 out, moderate 4th when weakened 2 out, 4th of 9, 26l behind Mandarin Sunset (11-0) at Musselburgh 2m 4f mdn hdl (4) gd in Nov.
Unex Canaletto 12-1 (10-13) Tracked leaders, took keen hold, lost place after 8th, 7th of 9, 31l behind Tantamount (10-12) at Aintree 2m 4f nov hcp hdl (3) sft in Dec.
