held up in touch, mistake 6th, tracked leaders before 4 out, ridden after next, rallied and close up on inside last, one pace in 3rd flat
tracked leaders, pushed along after 5 out, outpaced next, soon weakened
tracked leaders, went 2nd 3 out, upsides next, every chance last, ridden and one pace flat
tracked leaders, led 2nd, made most after, joined 2 out, soon ridden, kept on and in command flat
held up in touch, chased leaders after 5 out, close up next, ridden and outpaced in 4th after 3 out, well held after
held up towards rear, outpaced 4 out, never on terms
led narrowly to 2nd, dropped to rear and reminders after 4th, struggling next, tailed off 5 out
tracked leader, driven and lost place after 4 out, weakened from next
Chestnut Ben will be a teenager in a few weeks' time but he's won on two of his four previous visits here, though was behind Muwalla at Sedgefield in May. John Williams kept on well to score at Hexham considering he raced keenly while Cooper's Friend can't get much lower in the weights, though it's a long time since he's looked like winning a race. ENDEAVOR (NAP) produced a couple of poor efforts at Cartmel in July after winning at that track in May but he was back on-song over hurdles at Kelso in September and a close second in this last year when 11lb higher.
Chestnut Ben (IRE) 33-1 (11-9) Mid-division, ridden before 2 out, soon weakened, 5th of 8, 24l behind Mercian King (12-0) at Worcester 2m hcp (4) gf in Oct.
Stormbay Bomber (IRE) 20-1 (11-5) Led, hit 5 out, headed after next, soon weakened, pulled up before next, at Southwell 2m 4f hcp (4) gd in Aug.
Muwalla 14-1 (10-9) Held up mid-division, weakened before 4 out, 7th of 11, dist behind Reivers Lodge (11-2) at Kelso 2m 7f hcp (4) gd in Oct.
John Williams (IRE) 9-1 (11-10) Led, keen, headed 3rd, led again next, headed 8th, rallied approaching last, stayed on gamely to lead again close home, won at Hexham 2m hcp (5) hvy in Oct beating Oak Vintage (10-7) by shd, 11 ran.
Cooper's Friend (IRE) 10-1 (11-3) Tracked leader, challenged 3 out, weakened before last, 3rd of 8, 13 3/4l behind Red Giant (11-5) at Kelso 2m 6f hcp (4) gd in Sep.
Endeavor 14-1 (10-5) Mid-division, headway 3 out, led run-in, kept on, won at Kelso 2m 2f hcp (5) gd in Sep beating Make It Happen (11-12) by 2l, 16 ran.
My Idea 9-1 (11-1) Mid-division, headway 9th, chased leaders 3 out, under pressure next, weakened before last, 6th of 11, 23 1/4l behind John Williams (11-10) at Hexham 2m hcp (5) hvy in Oct.
Duhallowcountry (IRE) 14-1 (10-7) Held up in touch, led before 5th, headed before 11th, weakened from 2 out, 7th of 9, 36 3/4l behind Hope For Glory (10-0) at Sedgefield 2m hcp (5) gd in May.
