tracked leaders, pushed along and weakened before 2 out
tracked winner, ridden before last, kept on and held towards finish
made all, ridden before last, kept on
tracked leaders and keen, ridden before 2 out, kept on same pace
Nonrunner
This should be relative plain sailing for DAKAR RUN, who was a very decent bumper horse last season and came up against a promising novice in Purple Bay at Stratford when last seen. Mr Utah was only beaten a neck by the selection's stablemate Carlton Jack in a novices' handicap here on his UK debut but is rated a stone inferior to Jonjo O'Neill's charge. Bumper winner Magic Present was well beaten on his hurdling debut at Kelso but the switch to hurdling and longer trip should suit points winner Rocky Stone.
Indigo Island (IRE) 100-1 (10-9) Held up towards rear, headway after 7th, no impression after 3 out, slipped up on bend before next, in a race won by Heath Hunter (10-6) at Sedgefield 2m 4f 4yo nov stks (4) sft in Nov, 11 ran.
Magic Present 9-1 (10-12) Held up mid-division, pushed along before 4 out, no impresssion, 5th of 14, 38l behind The Last Samuri (10-12) at Kelso 2m 6f nov hdl (4) gs in Nov.
Mr Utah 7-1 (11-1) Towards rear, headway before 3 out, went 2nd soon after, mistake last, stayed on and just held near finish, 2nd of 7, nk behind Carlton Jack (11-7) at Sedgefield 2m 4f nov hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gs in Oct.
Rocky Stone (IRE) 8-1 (11-0) Led, headed well over 2f out, weakened over 1f out, 6th of 8, 43l behind Stonebrook (11-0) at Carlisle 2m 1f NH flat (6) hvy in Nov.
Dakar Run 7-2 (11-0) Mid-division, chased leaders 2 out, outpaced in 4th between last 2, ridden and stayed on to challenge on inside when not fluent last, held flat, 2nd of 10, 1l behind Purple Bay (11-0) at Stratford 2m mdn hdl (4) sft in Oct.
