in touch, pushed along 14th, weakened next, tailed off when pulled up before 4 out
soon behind, reminders 3rd, tailed off and pulled up before 12th
towards rear, pushed along 13th, outpaced after next, headway under pressure 3 out, stayed on to go remote 2nd flat
tracked leaders, pushed along 13th, weakened 17th, tailed off and pulled up before 3 out
mid-division, headway to track leaders 5th, colse 3rd when blundered and unseated rider 10th
mid-division, weakened 10th, tailed off when pulled up before 15th
made all, clear 13th
towards rear, struggling 14th, soon behind, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out
soon behind, tailed off when pulled up before 12th
in touch, dropped rear 7th, tailed off and pulled up after 13th
towards rear, struggling 14th, tailed off and pulled up before 17th
chased winner, beaten when misatake 2 out, no extra flat
chased leaders, outpaced 14th, rallied 4 out, soon ridden but no impression
There are plenty of scrabble scores among the form here and caution is advised in this dour staying chase. Dark Thunder is preferred to Benefit, Tyndarius and Celtic Flow. Dark Thunder has two ugly unseats next to his name but he certainly had every chance of taking part in a finish to a similar race at Sedgefield last month prior to an unfortunate exit. His best performances have come when carrying a feather weight and today he will shoulder just 10st 4lb if we include his jockey's claim. Benefit is another regular in this type of race. At eleven years of age - he could be getting a bit long in the tooth but he should give a bold sighter from the front. He is a relative baby in relation to Tyndarius. The old boy still maintains an enthusiasm for the game and there would be few people who would wish to deny him a final hurrah. Celtic Flow won off a BHB mark of 58 earlier in the year. She would have to produce a career best to reverse form with shock November winner, Bang and Blame. Getinbybutonlyjust has one or two staying issues to prove this afternoon. Farrington Lodge jumps well and looks a nice prospect but previous gambles upon him have come unstuck spectacularly in the past. Twotiming Gent produced a shock victory at Cartmel for his amateur lady rider during the Autumn. The former hunter chaser fell on his most recent start having dictated the early pace. A tough race and one in which stakes about Dark Thunder are recommended at only minimal levels.
Place Above (IRE) 8-1 (10-12) Chased leaders, mistake and lost place 10th, ridden after next, weakened 4 out, 4th of 7, 35l behind Strong Magic (10-3) at Leicester 2m 7f hcp chs 0-120 (D) gf in Nov.
Getinbybutonlyjust 9-1 (11-7) Towards rear, hit 4th, struggling from 14th, 4th of 9, 19l behind Precious Bane (10-4) at Hexham 3m 1f nov hcp chs 0-105 (E) gs in Nov.
Farington Lodge (IRE) 7-2 (11-2) Held up in touch, not fluent 12th, 4th when pulled up 4 out in race won by Splash Out Again (11-2) at Worcester 2m 7f beg chs (E) gf in Aug, 9 ran.
Bang And Blame (IRE) 3-1jt-fav (9-7) With leader when fell at the 11th in race won by Villair (11-10) at Market Rasen 3m 4f hcp chs 0-110 (E) sft, 6 ran.
Dark Thunder (IRE) 13-2 (10-2) Mid-division, headway 17th, chased winner 3 out, every chance when unseated rider 2 out in race won by Bang And Blame (9-9) at Sedgefield 3m 3f hcp chs 0-95 (F) gs in Nov, 15 ran.
Celtic Flow 7-1 (9-11) Led to 5th, remained in touch, left 2nd 2 out, soon ridden and one pace, 3rd of 15, 25l behind Bang And Blame (9-9) at Sedgefield 3m 3f hcp chs 0-95 (F) gs in Nov.
Tyndarius (IRE) 25-1 (11-9) Behind, struggling halfway, tailed off when pulled up 3 out in race won by Captain Mac (10-13) at Sedgefield 2m 5f hcp chs 0-105 (E) hvy, 10 ran.
Benefit 16-1 (10-0) Chased leaders, pushed along 9th, soon lost place, behind from 12th, 6th of 10, well behind Captain Mac (10-13) at Sedgefield 2m 5f hcp chs 0-105 (E) hvy.
