held up, steady headway 10th, ridden 4 out, one pace from next
always behind
held up towards rear, headway 8th, led 5 out, not fluent next, ridden and headed 3 out, rallied after last, just held
chased leaders, led 11th, headed 5 out, ridden approaching 4 out, led 3 out, hung right after last, all out
mid-division, stumbled and unseated rider 1st
chased leaders, blundered 11th, soon weakened
behind, pulled up before 1st
mid-division, weakened 13th, pulled up before 4 out
mid-division, chased leaders approaching 4 out, one pace from next
led, headed 6th, quickly pulled up before 9th
always towards rear
held up, headway 13th, ridden approaching 4 out, weakened next
with leader, led 6th, headed 11th, weakened 14th, tailed up when pulled up before last
chased leaders and mistakes, weakened 7th
The handicapper has now had a chance to re-assess Devondale and while Ferdy Murphy's gelding has more to do off a 10lb higher mark than when scoring over course and distance last time, he looks to have been found another poor contest so gets the vote ahead of Glenfarclas Boy and Helvetius. The last mentioned disappointed when pulled up on his return at Haydock last month but has slipped to the same mark as when successful at Wetherby last term so has to be respected. Gangsters R Us is entitled to strip fitter for his reappearance at Haydock but needs to, while Diamond Cottage lacks a recent run and may be best watched. Place Above seems to be in the grip of the handicapper now and of more interest may be Glenfarclas Boy, who should come on for his first two starts of the season. Ferdy Murphy's Get Smart has given little cause for optimism of late. The same cannot be said of stablemate Devondale, who has won his last two starts in good fashion and may be able to defy his rise in the weights.
Gangsters R Us (IRE) 22-1 (11-1) Held up, behind from 12th, tailed off, 5th of 10, 40l behind Melford (11-9) at Haydock 2m 4f hcp chs 0-110 (E) gd in Oct.
Helvetius 20-1 (10-13) Behind from 6th, tailed off when pulled up at the 9th in race won by Melford (11-9) at Haydock 2m 4f hcp chs 0-110 (E) gd in Oct, 10 ran.
Moscow Leader (IRE) 25-1 (11-2) Mid-division, mistake 3rd, ridden 8th, weakened 5 out, 6th of 9, 32l behind New Perk (9-9) at Fakenham 2m 5f hcp chs 0-105 (E) gd.
Almire du Lia (FR) 12-1 (11-4) Close up, led 5th, headed 5 out, weakened next, 7th of 9, 41l behind Devondale (9-7) at Newcastle 3m hcp chs 0-110 (E) gs.
Devondale (IRE) 5-2fav (9-7) Held up, in touch, headway 5 out, led 4 out, stayed on strongly from next, won at Newcastle 3m hcp chs 0-110 (E) gs beating Red Perk (10-1) by 1 1/2l, 9 ran.
Glenfarclas Boy (IRE) 10-1 (10-13) Chased leaders, pushed along 5 out, ridden and outpaced before next, 3rd of 6, 20l behind Oso Magic (11-12) at Newcastle 2m hcp chs 0-105 (E) gs.
Ta Ta For Now 18-1 (11-3) Always behind, tailed off from halfway, 5th of 15, well behind Bang And Blame (9-9) at Sedgefield 3m 3f hcp chs 0-95 (F) gs.
Diamond Cottage (IRE) 3-1fav (11-0) Always prominent, every chance when not fluent 4 out, no extra 2 out, 4th of 10, 7l behind Tina's Scallywag (10-0) at Hexham 3m 1f nov hcp chs 0-100 (E) gd in May.
Kung Hei Fat Choi (IRE) 16-1 (10-7) Held up, towards rear, headway 13th, pushed along 5 out, weakened next, 5th of 9, 31l behind Devondale (9-7) at Newcastle 3m hcp chs 0-110 (E) gs.
Eyze (IRE) 66-1 (10-8) Tracked leaders, mistake 13th, soon weakened, 6th of 11, 35l behind Miss Mattie Ross (9-10) at Kelso 2m 6f hcp chs 0-120 (D) gs.
Get Smart (IRE) 7-1 (10-0) Always behind, tailed off when unseated rider at the 10th in race won by Eau Pure (11-2) at Leicester 2m 4f hcp chs 0-100 (F) gf, 10 ran.
Jimmys Duky (IRE) 33-1 (11-6) Chased leaders, driven, outpaced, 4 out, 4th and no impression when refused 2 out in race won by Dead Mans Dante (11-3) at Sedgefield 2m 5f mdn chs (E) sft, 9 ran.
Sea Maize 20-1 (9-11) Tracked leaders, weakened 3 out, 5th of 9, 29l behind Lazy Lena (10-12) at Market Rasen 2m 6f sll hcp hdl 0-90 (G) gs.
Minsgill Glen 50-1 (9-11) In touch until weakened 14th, 6th of 10, well behind Primitive Way (10-8) at Kelso 3m 1f hcp chs 0-105 (E) gs in Oct.
Place Above (IRE) 9-2 (10-13) Chased leaders, driven halfway, lost place approaching 4 out, soon tailed off, 6th of 13, well behind Stoneravinmad (10-0) at Wetherby 3m 1f nov hcp hdl 0-90 (F) gf in Oct.
