in touch, pushed along 4 out, ridden and weakened 2 out
tracked leader, led 7th, joined and not fluent 4 out, mistake and headed 2 out, chased leader when not fluent next, driven and rallied to lead close home
tracked leaders, pushed along soon after 5 out, ridden and weakened next, pulled up 3 out
led, headed 7th, prominent, pushed along and no fluent 4 out, ridden next, kept on one pace
raced wide in touch in rear, headway 6th, chased leading pair when mistake 3 out, ridden and jumped right 2 out, kept on one pace
close up, joined winner 4 out, ridden to lead 2 out, 2 lengths clear next, tired run in and headed close home
NonRunner
Halcyon Days has just turned 13 but the Hexham runner-up is still capable if on a going day. Boagrius hasn’t won in almost three years but will have needed his run at Sandown and Catterick second Relkadam won off a 4lb higher mark over track and trip last season. Ballinsker’s chase record is lamentable, however, while STARVOSKI was behind File Illico at Warwick. But Kim Bailey’s mare was having a first run over fences that day and running for the first time since March. A winning pointer and hurdler, she is surely capable of much better.
Boagrius (IRE) 11-1 (11-4) Chased leader until 4 out, chased leaders, ridden and weakened before next, tailed off, 6th of 9, 32 1/2l behind One True King (12-1) at Sandown 2m hcp (3) gs in Dec.
File Illico (FR) 15-2 (11-4) Last pair, never on terms, 6th of 11, 28 3/4l behind Brave Seasca (11-13) at Warwick 2m hcp (4) sft in Dec.
Starvoski (IRE) 11-2 (11-3) Always towards rear, never involved, 9th of 11, dist behind Brave Seasca (11-13) at Warwick 2m hcp (4) sft in Dec.
Halcyon Days 16-1 (11-10) Led, increased tempo home turn, headed last, ran on gamely flat, could not go pace of winner, 2nd of 9, 3l behind Treshnish (11-10) at Hexham 2m hcp (5) hvy in Dec.
Donladd (IRE) 11-2 (12-0) Midfield, mistake 3 out, weakened, 12th of 13, dist behind Rollerruler (10-10) at Hexham 2m hcp (5) gs in Nov.
Relkadam (FR) 9-2 (11-8) Chasing leaders on inside 3rd, went 2nd 10th, no impression on winner 2 out, kept on, 2nd of 10, 17l behind Nocte Volatus (11-11) at Catterick 2m 3f hcp (5) sft in Dec.
Ballinsker (IRE) 9-4 (10-4) Chased sole rival, ridden after 2 out, held flat, kept on, last of 2, 3/4l behind Brief Ambition (11-8) at Ludlow 2m 4f hcp (3) gd in Nov.