mid-division, headway to chase leaders before 11th challenge 3 out, led before 2 out, clear before last
tracked leaders in 4th, mistake and pushed along 9th, weakened from 5 out
with leader, led after 10th, headed before 2 out, one pace and no impression on winner
held up towards rear, pushed along after 10th, never dangerous, pulled up
always towards rear, pulled up before 5 out
in rear, headway before 4 out, no impression
led, headed after 10th, remained close up, weakened after 2 out
tracked leaders in 3rd, in 4th and pushed along before 4 out, went 3rd before last, no impression
Sue Smith trained last year's winner and Wakhan looks to have every chance in this on the back of a string of placed efforts. But at the other end of the handicap PURCELL'S BRIDGE ran well for third at Newcastle last time and Rose Dobbin's charge should go close in this modest company. The veteran Or De Grugy managed to win off a similar mark last season but it's hard to make a serious case for any of the remainder in their current poor form unless the lightly-raced Just Awake proves better than he's shown so far.
Purcell's Bridge (FR) 4-1 (11-2) Held up in touch, headway into 3rd 5 out, ridden before next, rallied last, stayed on under pressure flat, not reach front pair, 3rd of 6, 3 1/2l behind Montoya's Son (11-12) at Newcastle 2m 4f hcp chs 0-115 (4) sft in Nov.
Or de Grugy (FR) 3-1 (11-1) Tracked leaders, lost place before 9th, pulled up, in a race won by Fentara (11-8) at Kelso 2m 7f hcp chs 0-125 (3) sft in Apr, 7 ran.
Bertie Milan (IRE) 18-1 (10-0) In rear, tailed off when pulled up after 9th, in a race won by Neptune Equester (10-4) at Kelso 4m hcp chs 0-140 (3) sft in Dec, 10 ran.
Ryton Runner (IRE) 25-1 (10-4) In rear, ridden 4 out, never on terms, 5th of 9, 29l behind Bearly Legal (10-9) at Musselburgh 2m 4f nov hcp chs 0-120 (4) gd in Nov.
Blazin White Face (IRE) 33-1 (11-10) In touch, lost place 6th, struggling 10th, pulled up soon after, in a race won by Montoya's Son (11-4) at Carlisle 2m 4f hcp chs 0-110 (4) sft in Oct, 9 ran.
Drumlister (IRE) 9-1 (11-4) Mid-division, chased leaders after 3 out, ridden and one pace next, no impression before last, 7th of 12, 10l behind Lights Of Broadway (11-4) at Catterick 2m 3f am hcp hdl 0-100 (5) gs in Dec.
Just Awake 7-2 (10-11) Fell 1st, in a race won by Benefit In Kind (10-3) at Musselburgh 3m hcp chs 0-105 (4) gd in Dec, 7 ran.
Wakhan (IRE) 9-4fav (10-3) Held up in touch, hampered 7th, went 2nd at the 10th, every chance last, kept on and held towards finish, 2nd of 7, 3l behind Scimon Templar (11-2) at Newcastle 2m 4f nov hcp chs 0-105 (4) sft in Dec.
