with leader, led 6th, hard pressed 4 out, ridden and headed 2 out, 3rd and no impression when left 6 lengths 2nd last
held up, outpaced after 5 out, soon weakened
held up in rear, headway approaching 3 out, ridden to challenge next, upsides and every chance when fell last
held up 4th, headway 4 out, led 2 out, hard pressed when left 6 lengths clear last, eased towards finish
led, headed 6th, tracked leader, ridden after 5 out, lost place next, soon weakened, left 4th last
tracked leading pair, effort and every chance 4 out, ridden next, soon outpaced, left 3rd last, no impression
Only a small field goes to post for this handicap chase and we will nominate BLACKS BRIDGE to get the better of Baltic Pathfinder and Ockey de Neulliac. It could be a good day for Howard Johnson who has a number of fancied runners on the card and Blacks Bridge looks to have a big chance. He won well when last seen out at Carlisle last month when he got the better of More Like It. He has gone up for that success but there should be more to come from him and if he can improve on his jumping then he should take plenty of stopping. Baltic Pathfinder looks the main danger as he chased home Toulouse Express at Sedgefield last month on his chasing debut and on the evidence of that run he should win his fair share in this sphere. Ockey de Neulliac has a decent strike-rate over hurdles but he has been a little disappointing since going chasing and he shapes as though he will be seen to better effect when he is upped in trip. St Killian's Run will go on the ground and he is worth noting in the market on his chasing debut, but this looks a good opportunity for Blacks Bridge who can get his head in front again.
Pamak D'airy (FR) 11-1 (11-8) Mid-division, not fluent 10th, headway approaching 4 out, weakened 2 out, 7th of 13, 34l behind Noun De La Thinte (10-4) at Leicester 2m 4f hcp chs 0-120 (3) sft in Dec.
St Killian's Run (IRE) 5-1 (11-0) Held up, headway 3 out, no impression from last, 4th of 14, 21l behind Hollins (11-0) at Kelso 2m nh nov hdl (4) sft in Dec.
Ockey De Neulliac (FR) 3-1 (11-0) Tracked leaders, soon chasing winner, mistake 8th, not fluent 2 out, ridden and weakened approaching last, 3rd of 4, 47l behind Little Josh (11-0) at Kelso 2m 1f beg chs (4) hvy in Nov.
Blacks Bridge (IRE) 7-1 (11-6) Held up, chased leaders approaching 7th, blundered next, led approaching 2 out, ridden approaching last, kept on well, won at Catterick 2m hcp chs 0-105 (4) gs in Dec beating More Like It (11-2) by 2 1/4l, 15 ran.
Baltic Pathfinder (IRE) 11-1 (11-2) Tracked leaders, headway to challenge 4 out, ridden and outpaced approaching 2 out, kept on same pace, no impression, 2nd of 10, 10l behind Toulouse Express (10-2) at Sedgefield 2m 4f hcp chs 0-105 (4) sft in Dec.
Prince Tam 20-1 (11-0) Chased leading trio, struggling 7th, soon lost touch, no danger after, 5th of 7, 41l behind Diamond Frontier (11-0) at Newcastle 2m beg chase (4) sft.
