tracked leaders, smooth headway to join leader 6th, shaken up to lead approaching last, stayed on well
held up towards rear, headway approaching 3 out, ridden when blundered last, kept on flat, never nearer
chased leaders, lost place 5th, soon behind
mid-division, headway after 6th, chased leaders next, never on terms
tracked leader, lost place 6th, ridden 3 out, soon no impression
mid-division, headway 6th, ridden to chase leaders 2 out, left 2nd last, kept on, no impression on winner
towards rear, headway when blundered 3 out, soon ridden, kept on same pace
chased leaders, ridden and outpaced 3 out, kept on under pressure from next, left poor 3rd last
mid-division, lost place 3 out, soon behind
led, hit 5th, joined next, headed and 2 lengths down when fell last
always behind, tailed off 3 out
A number of newcomers to conjure with here but Beamish Prince looked unlucky when falling here earlier in the season and he can gain compensation at the expense of Sargasso Sea and Racing Night. George Moore's charge surely had the race in the bag when falling at the second-last in a similar contest at the track in November. He was upped into listed grade against some useful types at Haydock last time out and on this return to lesser fare, he looks difficult to get away from. Sargasso Sea does have a superior BHB rating albeit obtained over longer trips. Jim Old's horses are running relatively well at the moment so he shouldn't be too readily discounted. Racing Night had bits and pieces of form on the flat over middle-distances for Ed Dunlop. He looked to produce his best efforts with top-of-the ground. Maritime Blues has to be respected as a rare National Hunt runner for James Given. He looks likely to be put out the front end of matters in the early stages. Magico looks best of the remainder. He appeared to prefer a drop back in trip to two miles at Kelso and if there is any money for him it would be folly to ignore it. Charlie's Memory is similarly dropped back in trip and is probably the best of the Easterby entry. Terramarique looks more of a flat-bred type than Lenny Lungo is used to handling so is also cautiously noted. A fair race with many imponderables but it is hard to see Beamish Prince out of the frame.
