mid-division, ridden approaching 3 out, soon chased leaders and one pace from next
towards rear, headway after 4 out, chased winner next, soon ridden, blundered 2 out and one pace after
mid-division, ridden approaching 3 out and soon beaten
mid-division, ridden approaching 3 out, soon weakened
towards rear, hit 8th, ridden and some headway approaching 3 out, soon one pace
always behind, lost touch 6th, pulled up before next
tracked leaders, lost place approaching 4 out, ridden approaching next, no impression when blundered 2 out
mid-division until lost touch 7th
tracked winner until ridden and weakened 4 out
always towards rear, lost touch 4 out
always towards rear
made all, hit 6th, ridden 3 out and kept on well
always towards rear, lost touch from 8th
Howard Johnson's course and distance winner Don't Stop Me Now is bound to be popular with backers following another decent effort here last month but the softer ground today is a concern and preference is for KINGS MAIDEN, who gets the vote over Elzahann. Ferdy Murphy's mare won easily at Catterick last month and has every chance of reversing form with Just Posh on their running at Sedgefield on Boxing Day at the different terms today. Chris Thornton's Danzatrice ran better here last month but needs to improve again to trouble the judge, while Malcolm Jefferson's Naturally Inspired looks to be going the right way but is another that would prefer faster ground. The vote then goes to James Moffatt's Kings Maiden, who has no problem with the underfoot conditions and comes into this in decent form and he looks the one they all have to beat.
Elzahann (IRE) 9-2 (10-12) Mid-division, blundered 3rd, effort after 4 out, ridden and chased leaders next, driven and went 2nd approaching last, kept on one pace run-in, 2nd of 11, 2 1/2l behind Just Posh (10-7) at Sedgefield 2m 4f mrs nov hdl (4) sft in Dec.
Just Posh 40-1 (10-7) Tracked leaders, led after 5th, ridden approaching 2 out, kept on well, won at Sedgefield 2m 4f mrs nov hdl (4) sft in Dec beating Elzahann (10-12) by 2 1/2l, 11 ran.
Kings Maiden (IRE) 5-2 (11-0) Mid-division, chased leaders halfway, ridden 3 out and kept on one pace, 3rd of 10, 14l behind Pelican Point (10-5) at Sedgefield 2m 4f mrs nov hdl (4) sft in Dec.
Bromley Bay 50-1 (10-6) Led until ridden and headed 3f out, gradually weakened, 6th of 12, 22l behind Hillview Boy (10-13) at Musselburgh 2m nhf (5) gf in Dec.
Claresburn 150-1 (10-1) Prominent and raced keenly, led 3rd until headed 4 out, ridden and soon weakened, 8th of 14, 36l behind Fortysecond Street (11-0) at Musselburgh 2m 4f mdn hdl (5) gd in Dec.
Danzatrice 11-1 (10-7) Held up, headway to chase leaders after 4 out, ridden next, kept on one pace, 3rd of 14, 8l behind Fortysecond Street (11-0) at Musselburgh 2m 4f mdn hdl (5) gd in Dec.
Elsies Nook 80-1 (10-12) Led, headed over 5f out, soon weakened, last of 10, well behind Brackenmoss (11-2) at Hexham 2m mrs nhf (6) hvy in Nov.
Leith Walk (IRE) 16-1 (10-2) Mid-division, lost place over 5f out, soon beaten, 11th of 13, 36l behind Meridian City (11-2) at Musselburgh 2m mdn nhf (5) gf in Nov.
Lemon Drizzle (IRE) 9-1 (10-7) Always towards rear, 6th of 10, 37l behind Pelican Point (10-5) at Sedgefield 2m 4f mrs nov hdl (4) sft in Dec.
Naturally Inspired (FR) 25-1 (10-3) Tracked leaders, effort 2 out, kept on but no chance with winner, 2nd of 15, 5l behind Elzahann (10-10) at Catterick 2m 3f mrs nov hdl (4) gd in Dec.
Pugnacity 33-1 (8-9) Tracked leader, ridden 3f out, soon weakened, last of 11, 19l behind Jane of Arc (8-8) at Musselburgh 1m 4f sll (6) gd in Sept (Flat).
Wheyaye 16-1 (10-7) Mid-division when fell at the 7th in race won by Fortysecond Street (11-0) at Musselburgh 2m 4f mdn hdl (5) gd in Dec, 14 ran.
Don't Stop Me Now (IRE) 13-8 (10-12) Led, headed after 4 out, soon ridden, driven and kept on run-in, 2nd of 7, 3/4l behind West With The Wind (11-5) at Musselburgh 2m 3yo nov hdl (4) gd in Dec.
Vallani (IRE) 80-1 (10-5) Always behind, lost touch from 4th, 5th of 7, well behind West With The Wind (11-5) at Musselburgh 2m 3yo nov hdl (4) gd in Dec.
