tracked leaders in 4th and keen, not fluent 7th, weakened 6 out, pulled up before next
held up towards rear, hit 1st, hit 5th and reminders, reminders again after 9th, not fluent 13th, headway after 3 out, weakened last
close up, led 2nd, clear approaching 4 out, hit next, ridden and headed 2 out, weakened last
in touch on outer, reminders after 5 out, soon outpaced, headway approaching 2 out, one pace run-in
led to 2nd, lost place 5th, weakened 12th, tailed off and pulled up before 5 out
tracked leaders, reminders after 5 out, soon outpaced, ralled to chase leader approaching 3 out, led 2 out, just held on towards finish, driven out
held up in rear, blundered 5th, mistake 10th, reminders and outpaced 12th, headway approaching 2 out, stayed on well and rallied to take 2nd towards finish, just held
held up towards rear, headway approaching 6th, blundered 7th, pushed along 10th, chased leader approaching 4 out until approaching 3 out, kept on from next, no extra run-in
Don McCain's Gilsland is only 2lb higher than when scoring at Kelso when last seen in May and has to be respected but it is hard to get away from Tim Walford's VODKA BROOK, who should come on for his encouraging return at Carlisle last month and has an obvious chance off just a 2lb higher mark today on ground conditions that are ideal. Micky Hammond's Dawn Ride is hard to recommend following his fall at Haydock last month and of more interest may be the reappearing Patman Du Charmil, who represents the in-form yard of Nigel Twiston-Davies. John Wade's General Hardi seems to be too high in the handicap, while Zitenka has given little sign of encouragement in two starts this term.
Vodka Brook (IRE) 14-1 (11-6) Tracked leader, jumped left 6th, hit 11th, led approaching 13th, jumped left 5 out, headed flat, soon switched right, no extra, 3rd of 15, 4 1/2l behind Etxalar (10-10) at Carlisle 3m 2f hcp chs 0-135 (3) sft in Oct.
Zitenka (IRE) 9-1 (11-10) Tracked leaders, outpaced 4 out, soon weakened, tailed off, 5th of 8, 47l behind Sheriff Hutton (11-12) at Kelso 2m 6f hcp chs 0-130 (3) gd.
Patman Du Charmil (FR) 8-1 (10-12) Chased leader, led 6th, blundered 3 out, soon headed, still every chance 2 out, weakened flat, 6th of 13, 8l behind Poquelin (11-12) at Cheltenham 2m 4f hcp chs 0-145 (2) gf in Oct '09.
General Hardi 12-1 (10-11) Held up in touch, pushed along after 5 out, soon weakened, hit last, 5th of 9, 26l behind Drever Route (10-12) at Wetherby 2m 4f hcp chs 0-135 (3) gd in Oct.
Daldini 22-1 (10-3) In touch, weakened from 4 out, 6th of 15, 32l behind Etxalar (10-10) at Carlisle 3m 2f hcp chs 0-135 (3) sft in Oct.
Gilsland (IRE) 5-6fav (10-9) Led, blundered and headed 15th, regained lead approaching 3 out, hard ridden run-in, kept on gamely, just held on, won at Kelso 3m 1f nov hcp chs (3) gd in May beating Heez A Steel (11-5) by nk, 3 ran.
Dawn Ride (IRE) 25-1 (11-7) Held up towards rear, fell 9th, in a race won by Le Platino (10-11) at Haydock 3m hcp chs 0-120 (3) gd in Oct, 12 ran.
Star Beat 16-1 (11-8) Led to 7th, chased leader, weakened from 5 out, 4th of 10, 47l behind Palos Conti (11-0) at Wetherby 3m 1f hcp chs 0-110 (4) gd in Oct.
