towards rear, headway to chase leaders 3 out, ridden after 2 out, one pace from last
led narrowly, ridden approaching 3 out, drew clear before last, ran on strongly flat
held up in rear, headway 11th, ridden 4 out, lost touch with leading trio before 2 out where not fluent, one pace
midfield, jumped right 7th, took closer order 9th, fell 11th
jumped right throughout, midfield, hit 12th, not fluent 4 out, ridden and no extra from 3 out
pressed leader, almost upsides 4 out, ridden and close up 3 out, outpaced before last, kept on flat
Empire De Maulde has won over fences and went close again at Doncaster last month but testing going is a worry for him so a chance is take on MAID O’MALLEY. The latter is expected to handle the underfoot conditions and, with improvement expected having placed at Hexham on an earlier debut over the larger obstacles, she gets the nod. Dundrum Wood was sent off favourite at Kelso for his chasing bow but never figured while Shaughnessy may prove best of the rest with Brian Hughes taking over the reins.
Empire De Maulde (FR) 8-1 (11-12) Took a keen hold, in rear, ridden and progress before 3 out, pushed along to lead after last, headed final strides, just denied, 2nd of 8, shd behind Enry Iggins (11-2) at Doncaster 3m hcp (4) gd in Nov.
Dundrum Wood (IRE) 11-5fav (11-12) Held up in rear, jumped right 3rd, not fluent 6th, awkward 9th and 10th, mistake 13th, ridden 4 out, mistake and tailed off 3 out, hit 2 out, eased after last, 4th of 5, 19 1/2l behind Exit To Where (10-12) at Kelso 2m 7f hcp (4) gs in Oct.
Archie Brown (IRE) 100-1 (11-9) Held up, pushed along 4 out, soon weakened, 10th of 13, dist behind Sometimes Always (11-13) at Wetherby 2m 4f hcp (4) gs in Nov.
Maid O'Malley 13-2 (11-6) Held up towards rear, headway into midfield 3 out, steady progress when hit last, stayed on flat, 2nd of 7, 2 3/4l behind Schiaparannie (11-11) at Carlisle 2m 1f hcp (4) hvy in Nov.
Shaughnessy 7-2fav (11-5) Always behind, mistake 14th, soon lost touch, tailed off when pulled up before 4 out, at Chepstow 3m 2f hcp (4) hvy in Jan.
Central Flame 28-1 (11-12) Held up towards rear, headway into midfield 6th, dropped back towards rear 8th, ridden after 2 out, headway between horses before last, one pace flat, 5th of 8, 12 1/4l behind Southeast Rose (10-8) at Hexham 2m hcp (5) sft in Nov.
