tracked leaders, led 4 out, headed approaching 2 out, ridden and soon weakened
mid-division, ridden and weakened from 3 out
mid-division, close up 5th, ridden after 3 out, led approaching 2 out, driven and headed approaching last and soon one pace
mid-division, smooth headway and every chance 2 out, ridden and kept on one pace
towards rear, ridden 3 out, soon beaten
close up, ridden 2 out and gradually weakened
always towards rear
mid-division, ridden approaching 2 out, kept on to lead approaching last and driven out
tracked leader, led 3rd, headed next, ridden 3 out and weakened from approaching last
behind, headway to chase leaders 3 out, soon ridden and gradually weakened
mid-division, tracked leaders 4 out, soon ridden and weakened from 2 out
always towards rear
always behind, pulled up before last
Another contest that is moderate at best concludes proceedings and we'll take LAWGIVER to follow-up a disqualification win last time, while Dark Gentleman might emerge as the main opposition. The selection was awarded a Catterick handicap hurdle by the stewards after being carried right across the track on the run-in and passing the post in second place. The front two were over three lengths clear of the rest on that occasion, the gelding acts with some cut in the ground and in a race where nothing else is in great nick he might just be up to defying a 7lb penalty. Dark Gentleman enjoys getting his toe in and after only a handful of runs is open to improvement. He sees out this trip and beyond and can probably stay on again to claim some prize money. Super Ross races over his optimum trip and is another sent all the way here by Evan Williams. Thus far he appears better on good ground and we won't be rushing to back him, though he might have enough about him to make the frame. Just Smokie is turned out by in-form handler Donald McCain and merits respect. She could show us more after being dropped back in trip but she too looks to prefer a sound surface. Simonside won a good ground Market Rasen bumper last year and put up an adequate effort on his reappearance at Musselburgh earlier in the month. If he can improve for that then he could get involved but Lawgiver gets the verdict.
Lawgiver (IRE) 14-1 (11-1) Led 2nd, headed approaching 6th, every chance when carried badly right from last, just held, awarded race, 2nd of 16, shd behind It's Bertie (10-8) at Catterick 2m 3f amt hcp hdl 0-100 (4) gs. Later awarded race.
Sybellius D'artaix (FR) 100-1 (10-10) Mid-division, stumbled 21st, no progress, 7th of 14, 47l behind Spot Thedifference (11-8) at Cheltenham 3m 7f crs cty chs (2) gf in Nov '07.
Simonside 40-1 (11-0) Always handy, every chance approaching 3 out, ridden and soon weakened, 5th of 13, 14l behind Red Moloney (11-0) at Musselburgh 2m mdn hdl (5) gf.
Super Ross (IRE) 11-1 (10-7) Mid-division, ridden 6th, headway approaching 8th, one pace from 3 out, 4th of 16, 19l behind Malakiya (11-8) at Ludlow 2m 5f sll hdl (4) gd in Oct.
Dark Gentleman 9-1 (10-9) Held up, weakened approaching 8th, 4th of 8, 30l behind Tot Of The Knar (11-12) at Sedgefield 2m 5f nh nov hdl (4) sft.
Mr Midaz 6-1 (10-4) Mid-division, ridden and weakened from 3 out, last of 9, well behind Oleolat (10-9) at Kelso 2m 2f cnd hcp hdl 0-110 (4) sft in Nov.
Just Smokie 17-2 (11-2) Mid-division, weakening when blundered 3 out, 5th of 13, 24l behind Willie The Fish (10-12) at Catterick 3m 1f cnd hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gd.
Gallantian (IRE) (12-0) 6th of 14, 30l behind Holey Moley (12-0) at Kirkistown 3m ire ptp gs in Nov.
Longdale 8-1 (10-8) Tracked leaders, not fluent 4th, weakened 3 out, 6th of 7, 18l behind Nevsky Bridge (10-4) at Sedgefield 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) sft.
College City (IRE) 25-1 (11-0) Close up, led 7th, soon headed, ridden next, weakened 3 out, 4th of 12, 42l behind Little Shilling (10-8) at Fakenham 2m 4f sll hcp hdl 0-95 (5) gd in Nov.
Fair Spin 100-1 (10-4) Held up, pushed along 4th, jumped right 6th, soon weakened, 6th of 16, 38l behind Albany (11-0) at Wetherby 2m 6f cnd clm hdl (5) gd in Nov.
Diktatorship (IRE) 16-1 (10-6) Held up, ridden and hit 3 out, soon beaten, last of 10, 47l behind Ring Bo Ree (10-8) at Hereford 2m 4f nov hcp hdl 0-100 (4) gd in Nov.
Crystal Runner 20-1 (9-8) Mid-division, headway and in touch 7th, challenged 3 out, ridden next, no impression approaching last, 5th of 12, 6l behind Kings Maiden (11-7) at Sedgefield 2m 4f mrs hcp hdl (4) sft in Nov.
The Masters Lesson 40-1 (10-6) Mid-division, slow 3rd, under pressure 9th, behind when pulled up 3 out in race won by Little Shilling (11-7) at Fakenham 2m 7f hcp hdl 0-95 (5) sft, 8 ran.
