always behind, tailed off
held up towards rear, smooth headway after 4 out, 2nd 2 out, not pace of winner
always behind, tailed off from 3 out
in touch, chased leaders 3 out, no extra approaching last
mid-division, weakened 3 out
not fluent throughout, mid-division, blundered 3rd, weakened 5 out, pulled up after next
keen in rear, weakening when blundered 6th, soon pulled up
chased leaders, effort after 3 out, weakened before last
tracked leader, outpaced after 4 out, rallying when fell 2 out
made all, drew clear after 2 out, easily
tracked leader, ridden to challenge 3 out, weakening when mistake next
mid-division, headway to chase leaders 6th, weakened 3 out
Storm Rising beat Mr Scrumpy a length when scoring at Doncaster with West To The Bridge further back in third. The runner-up is weighted to reverse running having beaten Sakhee's City over course and distance in November. But BIG BAD BEAR has more scope having defied a penalty to land the odds in novice company at Carlisle - Nicky Richards’ charge is expected to show further progress now handicapping for the first time. According To Alex is another making his handicap debut while River Frost has been thereabouts over fences lately and stablemate Demi Sang can race off an 8lb lower mark back over the smaller obstacles.
Sam's Gunner 15-2 (10-12) Keen in touch in rear, disputed 3rd and 10 lengths down on 2nd from 13th, weakened 4 out, left remote 2nd 2 out, 2nd of 5, 37l behind Top Ville Ben (11-8) at Wetherby 3m (3) sft in Mar.
Sakhee's City (FR) 14-1 (11-9) In rear, outpaced 4 out, stayed on from 2 out, never nearer, 5th of 8, 32 1/2l behind Flashjack (11-9) at Haydock 3m hcp (3) hvy in Dec.
Demi Sang (FR) 9-2 (11-12) In rear, slow 6th, struggling 8th, headway under pressure 4 out, no impression from next, 4th of 5, 20 1/2l behind Nuts Well (11-2) at Wetherby 1m 7f hcp (3) sft in Dec.
River Frost 8-1 (11-8) Held up in last pair, struggling 10th, headway on outside before 4 out, hung left, ridden before next, went 2nd before 2 out, kept on, no impression with winner, 2nd of 7, 2 1/4l behind Geronimo (11-9) at Newcastle 2m 4f hcp (3) sft in Dec.
Ball D'Arc (FR) 33-1 (11-12) Raced wide chasing leaders, effort on outside approaching 3 out, weakened soon after 3 out, 5th of 6, 28 1/2l behind Storm Rising (11-2) at Doncaster 2m 3f hcp (3) gs in Dec.
Big Bad Bear (IRE) 1-4fav (11-4) Always prominent, went 2nd and poised to challenge 2 out, led between last 2, 2 lengths clear when not fluent last, ridden out flat, stayed on well, won at Carlisle 2m 1f (4) sft in Dec beating Multellie (11-4) by 1 3/4l, 12 ran.
Authorizo (FR) 9-1 (10-8) Held up in touch, 6th halfway, pushed along in 4th when stumbled slightly after 2 out, ridden and dropped to 6th after last, no impression, 6th of 8, 25l behind Darver Star (10-9) at Downpatrick 2m 3f Good - Yielding in Aug.
Storm Rising (IRE) 9-2 (11-2) Tracked leader until 2nd, handy 3rd, pushed along before 3 out, 2nd again before 2 out, led before the last, hit last and joined, stayed on to assert run-in, won at Doncaster 2m 3f hcp (3) gs in Dec beating Mr Scrumpy (10-11) by 1l, 6 ran.
Mr Scrumpy Evensfav (10-11) Tracked leader 2nd, led 3 out, joined next, ridden and headed before the last, rallied as winner hit last, held run-in, 2nd of 6, 1l behind Storm Rising (11-2) at Doncaster 2m 3f hcp (3) gs in Dec.
West To The Bridge (IRE) 9-4 (11-12) Held up in rear, jumped right 7th, lost touch next, tailed off when pulled up before 4 out, at Wincanton 2m hcp (3) hvy in Dec.
Zig Zag (IRE) 33-1 (10-10) Chased leaders, not fluent 3rd, stayed on same pace from 3 out, went 3rd towards finish, 3rd of 11, 9l behind Flinck (10-10) at Haydock 2m 3f hcp (3) sft in Dec.
According To Alex (FR) 10-1 (10-12) Led, headed 4 out, tracked leaders, ridden and weakened 2 out, 3rd of 7, 29l behind Cheddleton (10-12) at Bangor-on-Dee 2m 1f (4) hvy in Dec.
