mid-division on inside, headway and in touch 9th, outpaced 5 out, soon ridden, not fluent next, 8th and beaten when mistake 3 out
in touch, lost place 9th, behind from 5 out
always prominent, outpaced after 4 out, left 4 lengths 3rd last, ridden and rallied flat to lead final 75 yards, held on
mid-division on outside, close up 9th, went 2nd before 4 out, challenged next, every chance 2 out, soon ridden, 2 lengths down in 2nd when fell last
tracked leaders, led before 9th, hard pressed 3 out, left 3 lengths clear last, ridden flat, headed and no extra final 75 yards
behind, reminder 2nd, mistake 6th, struggling from next, never dangerous
in touch on inside, switched outside 11th, mistake 5 out, soon outpaced, weakened from next
mistake 1st, in touch, reminder and lost place 8th, soon struggling, tailed off 4 out
mid-division, lost place when mistake 7th, struggling 10th, tailed off when pulled up before 4 out
behind, headway 9th, chased leading pair after 4 out, left 3 lengths 2nd when mistake last, ridden and rallied flat, held near finish
led to before 9th, with leader, lost place before 4 out, soon ridden and weakened
Overquest arrives in form and should go close in his bid to defy a 7lb penalty, but despite being a progressive and unexposed chaser he does seem dependant on some cut in the ground. As such we'll take him on in favour of OCARINA, who sluiced through the mud at Hexham last time but had previously shown a liking for a sound surface. He escapes a penalty for that most recent 15-length success and is set to go up 9lbs in future, so will need to be winning this to justify his new handicap rating. Eyre Square is well-handicapped on the pick of his hurdles form and needs a market check on his return, Dallas Bell deserves credit for a fine second at Cartmel and should improve for the step up in distance while Border Reiver is another who fared well over an inadequate trip last time so this won't be easy for Ocarina, but he should be up to the task.
Blazing Diva (IRE) 16-1 (11-2) Held up in 4th, with leader 10th, not fluent 11th, went 2nd approaching 4 out, weakened from 3 out, 7th of 10, 45l behind Newman Des Plages (11-12) at Carlisle 3m hcp chs 0-115 (4) gs in Oct.
Royal Mackintosh 20-1 (10-13) Held up mid-division, pushed along approaching 9th, weakened from 12th, pulled up before 7th, in a race won by Omix D'or (10-9) at Perth 3m 7f hcp chs 0-120 (3) sft in Apr, 17 ran.
Eyre Square (IRE) 7-1 (10-5) Led, headed approaching 3rd, weakened 3 out, 4th of 8, 21l behind Bally Wall (10-1) at Ayr 3m 1f nov chs (2) gd in Apr.
Overquest 10-3fav (11-5) Held up mid-division, headway approaching 10th, chased leaders approaching 3 out, led approaching last, soon clear, won at Carlisle 3m 2f hcp chs 0-105 (4) hvy beating Benbeoch (10-11) by 7l, 8 ran.
Ocarina (FR) 5-1 (11-9) Tracked leaders in 3rd, not fluent 3rd, led 3 out, soon clear, easily, won at Hexham 2m 4f cond hcp chs 0-105 (4) hvy beating Manoubi (10-11) by 15l, 6 ran.
Sierra Victor (IRE) 17-2 (11-3) Held up towards rear, blundered 3rd, reminders after 5th, again after 7th, weakened from 10th, tailed off from 6 out, soon pulled up, in a race won by Palos Conti (11-0) at Wetherby 3m 1f hcp chs 0-110 (4) gd in Oct, 10 ran.
Border Reiver 4-1 (10-7) Tracked winner, ridden and looking held when jumped right and mistake 2 out, went right and lost 2nd last, no extra, 3rd of 7, 13l behind Film Festival (11-9) at Wetherby 2m 4f nov hcp chs 0-120 (3) gd in Oct.
Rare Society (IRE) 14-1 (11-2) Chased leaders, reminder 8th, lost place 11th, weakened 2 out, 7th of 10, 29l behind Quinder Spring (10-8) at Hexham 2m 4f hcp chs 0-115 (4) sft in Oct.
Waterski 7-2fav (9-11) Mid-division, blundered 6th, weakened and pulled up 4 out, in a race won by Reel Charmer (10-8) at Kelso 3m 1f hcp chs 0-125 (3) gs in Apr, 12 ran.
Dallas Bell 12-1 (11-0) In touch, led 6th, mistake 4 out, headed 2 out, one pace, 2nd of 14, 6l behind Primrose Time (10-10) at Carlisle 2m nov hcp chs 0-105 (4) sft in Oct.
Seek The Truth (IRE) 10-1 (10-0) With leaders on outside, mistake and lost place 3rd, outpaced 4 out, soon ridden, weakened after 2 out, 6th of 10, 26l behind Quinder Spring (10-8) at Hexham 2m 4f hcp chs 0-115 (4) sft in Oct.
