in rear, struggling from 4 out, late headway from last
mid-division on inside, hard ridden 4 out, keeping on into 2nd approaching last, chased winner run-in but no chance
prominent, challenged 3 out, led 2 out, clear last and ran on well flat
chased leader, struggling and dropped towards rear home turn, plugged on from 2 out
always towards rear, never involved
led, ridden and hard pressed 3 out, headed 2 out, weakened from last
mid-division, ridden and outpaced 3 out when not fluent, kept on from last for 3rd
Return Fire was impressive under Patrick Wadge at Hexham last week having just a second start over fences. He goes unpenalised in this and will be carrying 8lb more from next week but Lucinda Russell also saddles RAPID RAIDER, who finished ahead of his stablemate when second at Perth in September and has cheekpieces on for the first time here. Cracking Find looked to be coming to hand at Carlisle and Larry Looby’s form figures speak for themselves. Matchmaking also has claims but Mance Rayder and Zoffalee are infrequent winners.
Zoffalee (FR) 14-1 (11-2) Always last, pushed along and outpaced before 3 out, went remote 4th 2 out, 4th of 5, 18 1/2l behind Kinondo Kwetu (11-9) at Southwell 3m hcp (4) gd in Sep.
Mance Rayder (IRE) 9-1 (10-4) Close 3rd on inside, went 2nd 3rd until next, 2nd again 8th until before next, chased leaders, lost 3rd before 3 out, ridden and weakened before next, 6th of 7, 29 1/4l behind Court Dreaming (10-2) at Carlisle 3m hcp (3) gd in Oct.
Return Fire (IRE) 7-2 (12-2) Pressed leader, led 2 out, went clear turning in, ridden out, easily, won at Hexham 3m hcp (5) sft in Nov beating Gipsy Lee Rose (12-2) by 13l, 11 ran.
Larry Looby (IRE) 12-1 (11-6) Tracked leaders, pushed along and outpaced in 3rd home turn, ridden after 2 out, rallied and stayed on to lead approaching last, kept on well, won at Sedgefield 3m 3f hcp (5) gd in Oct beating Ballintogher Boy (10-2) by nk, 6 ran.
Rapid Raider (IRE) 11-2 (11-2) Chased winner, pushed along after 13th, mistake 3 out, no impression from 2 out, 2nd of 4, 8 1/2l behind Easy Bucks (11-1) at Perth 3m hcp (4) gd in Sep.
Cracking Find (IRE) 11-1 (10-9) Led briefly, chased leader, led 12th, ridden after 4 out, headed 2 out, no impression on winner flat, lost 2nd towards finish, 3rd of 7, 9l behind Cooper's Cross (12-0) at Carlisle 2m 4f hcp (4) gs in Oct.
Matchmaking (GER) 10-3 (10-6) Mid-division, not fluent 2nd, went 3rd 6th, pressed leader home turn, led 2 out and soon ridden, headed approaching last, switched right and rallied run-in, held towards finish, 2nd of 9, 1l behind Get With It (11-9) at Kelso 2m 7f hcp (5) gs in Oct.
