mid-division, ridden 5 out, soon weakened
close up, reminder 11th, went 5th from 12th, weakened next
with leader, led after 5 out, ridden before 2 out, soon pressed, headed run-in, kept on
tracked leaders, went 3rd at 13th, went 2nd before 4 out, challenged last, led run-in, pushed out
towards rear, some headway before 4 out, never dangerous
always behind
led, not fluent 9th, headed after 5 out, kept on from 2 out
mid-division, pushed along before 11th, went 4th before 4 out, one pace
always towards rear
always towards rear, pulled up
Copper's Gold has won here in the past and may well prove the pick of Lucinda Russell's two runners but we're loathe to desert BE MY DEPUTY. Richard Guest's gelding came good over a shorter trip at Doncaster last month but has been placed twice over 3m and the highly-regarded amateur Nico de Boinville will be delaying his challenge until the last possible minute. Ballybanks has won a point-to-point but is still a maiden under Rules while Blazing Bull didn't show a lot over fences first time around. Shoal Bay Dreamer was disappointing last time and is best watched today.
Quinder Spring (FR) 12-1 (11-5) Towards rear, headway before 10th, weakened before 3 out, 5th of 10, 21l behind Boris The Blade (11-12) at Newcastle 3m hcp 0-100 (5) hvy in Dec.
Copper's Gold (IRE) 5-1 (11-0) Led 1st until before 3rd, led 4th, headed 6th, weakened after 3 out, 3rd of 6, 24l behind Alpha One (11-7) at Sedgefield 2m 6f hcp chs 0-115 (4) gs in Nov.
Be My Deputy (IRE) 9-2 (11-7) Chased leaders, soon with leader, led before 8th, kept on well from last, won at Doncaster 2m 3f hcp chs 0-100 (5) gd beating It Is What It Is (10-7) by 2 3/4l, 15 ran.
Knight Woodsman 66-1 (11-1) Tracked leaders, hit 7th, weakened approaching 3 out, pulled up after, in a race won by Shadow Boxer (10-3) at Ayr 3m 1f hcp chs 0-100 (5) hvy in Jan, 10 ran.
Blazing Bull (IRE) 9-2fav (11-1) Mid-division, headway after 6th, ridden when mistake 7th, no impression on leaders 2 out, 4th of 13, 16l behind Notonebuttwo (10-11) at Kelso 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-95 (5) hvy in Jan.
Commercial Express (IRE) 20-1 (10-7) Always behind, tailed off, 7th of 13, well behind Notonebuttwo (10-11) at Kelso 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-95 (5) hvy in Jan.
Ballybanks (IRE) 3-1 (10-8) Chased leading trio, stayed on to 3rd approaching 2 out, kept on from last, 3rd of 6, 9l behind Rowan Road (10-0) at Kelso 3m 3f nov hcp hdl 0-100 (5) sft in Dec.
Hawthorne Bay 8-1 (10-9) Towards rear, pushed along 6th, never dangerous, 7th of 9, 36l behind Tipsy Dara (11-5) at Carlisle 2m 4f hcp chs 0-105 (4) hvy in Dec.
Shoal Bay Dreamer 15-2 (11-4) With leaders, led before 6 out, headed before 5 out, weakened before next, pulled before 3 out, in a race won by Dingo Bay (10-7) at Newcastle 2m 4f hcp chs 0-95 (5) hvy in Jan, 8 ran.
Snooze N You Lose 40-1 (10-0) In rear, ridden after 9th, weakened next, pulled up before 11th, in a race won by Mansonien L'as (10-13) at Kelso 2m 7f hcp chs 0-95 (5) hvy in Jan, 8 ran.