prominent, pushed along 5th, soon weakened, pulled up 2 out
held up, ridden and weakened 3 out
towards rear, ridden 5th, weakened 2 out
prominent until ridden 5th, soon lost place
held up, some headway 3 out, weakened next
towards rear, ridden and headway 3 out, kept on same pace
tracked leaders, ridden 5th, blundered next, soon weakened
made all, ridden 2 out, clear next, readily
in touch, headway to chase leaders 3 out, soon ridden , chased clear winner last, no threat
held up, ridden 5th, weakened next
close up, chased winner 5th, no impression from 2 out, lost 2nd next
in rear, tailed off 5th, pulled up 2 out
An uninspiring opener with IRISH HAWKE the only one of these with a hurdles win to his name. Donald McCain’s charge drops down a grade after a couple of poor efforts but gets the nod on an earlier success at Bangor in August. Hey Bob was a well beaten third here recently and Dance And Romance goes handicapping for the first time on her reappearance. Gunner Lindley went close at Hexham in September but has now had 23 attempts over timber without a win while Louloumills has been thereabouts over these obstacles off similar marks on several occasions this year.
Irish Hawke (IRE) 8-1 (11-0) Held up towards rear, ridden before 2 out, never dangerous, 6th of 7, 31 1/4l behind Peruvien Bleu (11-6) at Towcester 2m hcp (4) gd in Nov.
Dance And Romance 18-1 (10-7) Tracked leaders in 3rd, weakened from 3 out, 3rd of 4, 34 1/4l behind My Little Cracker (11-0) at Hexham 2m (4) hvy in Mar.
Shalamzar (FR) 25-1 (10-10) Always towards rear, weakened from 3 out, last of 7, dist behind Discoverie (11-6) at Sedgefield 2m 1f hcp (4) sft in Nov.
Gunner Lindley (IRE) 13-2 (11-2) Prominent, reminders after 3rd, driven and lost place before last (usual 3 out), soon ridden and weakened, tailed off when eased before omitted last, last of 7, dist behind Italian Riviera (11-12) at Kelso 2m 2f hcp (5) gf in Oct.
Lucarno Dancer 16-1 (11-1) Held up towards rear, headway before 3 out, ridden and weakened before last, 8th of 12, 33 1/4l behind Catchthemoonlight (10-12) at Hexham 2m hcp (5) sft in Nov.
Hey Bob (IRE) 10-1 (10-12) Held up, behind, headway after 3 out, every chance 2 out, kept on, 3rd of 13, 14l behind G'day Aussie (10-6) at Sedgefield 2m 1f hcp (5) gd in Oct.
Louloumills 6-1 (11-2) Held up mid-division, weakened before 3 out, tailed off, 10th of 13, dist behind Bassarabad (11-12) at Kelso 2m 7f hcp (5) gs in Oct.
Robben 33-1 (10-12) Disputed lead to before 3 out, weakened before next, 9th of 11, 37 3/4l behind On The Road (11-5) at Fontwell 2m 3f hcp (5) sft in Nov.
Hi Bob 66-1 (10-0) Jumped right and not fluent, soon behind, pulled up after 7th, at Southwell 2m hcp (5) gd in May.
Little Lotte (IRE) 100-1 (10-12) In rear, hit 3rd, ridden 4 out, soon struggling, pulled up before last, at Fakenham 2m fll (3) gd in Oct.
First Of Never (IRE) 100-1 (9-9) In rear, some headway 3f out, never near leaders, 5th of 8, 11 1/2l behind Kicking The Can (9-9) at Newcastle 1m 2f mdn stks (5) pol in Nov.
Hugh's Secret (IRE) 150-1 (10-7) In rear, ridden before 4th, soon weakened, well tailed off, 7th of 9, dist behind Will O'the West (11-4) at Uttoxeter 2m mdn (4) hvy in Jan.