mid-division, hit 7th, lost place 13th, behind when pulled up after next
towards rear, lost touch and pulled up before 17th
mid-division, mistake and lost place 11th, behind when hit 14th, pulled up before next
chased leaders to 8th, soon lost place, behind when pulled up before 11th
always behind, tailed off from halfway
prominent, outpaced 3 out, left 3rd next, stayed on to go 2nd approaching last, no chance with winner
always behind, tailed off halfway
mid-division, driven to chase leaders 17th, no impression from 4 out
behind from 9th, tailed off when pulled up before 16th
in touch, led 5th until mistake and headed next, lost place half way, tailed off when pulled up before 15th
mid-division, headway to chase winner 17th, ridden 3 out 2 lengths down and under pressure when blundered and unseated rider next
led to 5th, remained in touch, mistake 17th, left 2nd 2 out, soon ridden and one pace
chased leaders to halfway, soon behind, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out
always behind, tailed off when pulled up after 14th
in touch, led 6th, made rest, left clear 2 out, stayed on, eased near finish
The shortlisted three are Sylviesbuck, Benefit and Dark Thunder, with the vote going to Dark Thunder. Now, it might seem a bit strange that the Ferdy Murphy-trained selection is not being ridden by Keith Mercer, who is down to ride the same stable's Chancers Dante. However, in what is not a strong race, Dark Thunder scores highly mainly by virtue of the fact that he is a course and distance winner - in which he landed some good bets. Ok, he has been raised 13 pounds for that but, as we say, this is not a strong contest. Benefit could go well as he is just five pounds above a winning mark and was placed off a rating of 84 three runs ago, although the downside is that he has been off since June. Sylviesbuck is also a course and distance winner - back in January 2004 off a five-pounds higher mark than today - and he has run well from around today's mark more recently. Of the others, Tee-Jay, has been hit hard for his Hexham win, but he has won from a much higher mark over hurdles and has to be respected today, while Ta Ta For Now has place claims on the best of his form, but Celtic Flow has a bit more to do than when winning a course and distance selling chase here on his latest start. All of which returns us to the choice, which is Dark Thunder.
Contract Scotland (IRE) 4-1fav (11-2) In touch when fell at the 14th in race won by Primitive Way (10-8) at Kelso 3m 1f hcp chs 0-105 (E) gs in Oct, 10 ran.
Cirrus (FR) 9-2 (11-6) Held up, headway 3 out, kept on from next, no impression on leading pair, 3rd of 9, 18l behind Dead Mans Dante (11-3) at Sedgefield 2m 5f mdn chs (E) sft.
Briar's Mist (IRE) 11-2 (11-1) Tracked leader when fell at the 5th in race won by Chabrimal Minster (11-9) at Aintree 3m 1f hcp chs 0-110 (E) sft in Oct, 6 ran.
Tee-Jay (IRE) 13-8fav (11-0) Mid-division, reminders 3rd, headway 14th, went 2nd next, ridden approaching 2 out, stayed on gamely to lead flat, won at Hexham 3m 1f chs 0-90 (F) gf in Oct beating Swallow Magic (10-7) by 3 1/2l, 11 ran.
Bright Steel (IRE) 3-1fav (10-13) Not fluent, towards rear, reminder 7th, soon weakened, tailed off and pulled up at the 12th in race won by Sharp Belline (11-11) at Kelso 3m 1f nov hcp chs 0-100 (E) gs, 7 ran.
Dark Thunder (IRE) 10-1 (10-8) Behind, bumped 1st, blundered and unseated rider at the 13th in race won by Mill Bank (10-11) at Uttoxeter 3m hcp chs 0-90 (F) gs in Oct, 14 ran.
Celtic Flow 13-2 (9-11) Tracked leader, led 4 out, ridden after 2 out, stayed on flat, won at Sedgefield 3m 3f sll hcp chs 0-90 (G) gs in Oct beating Chris And Ryan (10-8) by 4l, 9 ran.
Chancers Dante (IRE) 9-4 (9-12) Bumped and unseated rider 1st unseated rider in race won by New Leader (10-0) at Folkestone 3m 1f nov hcp chs 0-95 (F) gf, 6 ran.
