always towards rear
prominent, ridden and weakened 4 out
towards rear, fell 8th
mid division, one pace from 4 out
in touch, ridden 4 out, pulled up before next
tracked leaders, kept on from 2 out, no chance with winner
led, jumped well, clear 2 out, easily
in touch till blundered and unseated rider 7th
always towards rear
This looks to be a competitive handicap as most would have some sort of chance, though Robinson Collonges will surely need the run and Alderbrook Lad was disappointing at Sedgefield last time. GALWAY JACK, who won over this trip at Southwell and Newcastle in the spring, looked as though his turn wasn't far away again when just touched off by Robbie at Doncaster earlier this month and he's narrowly preferred to last week's Haydock runner-up Stagecoach Pearl despite a 3lb rise in the weights. The latter's stable companion Ballymoat is respected, as is Hexham winner Clondaw Knight, while Shadows Lengthen, Bobcatbilly and Premier Grand Cru could also feature.
Shadows Lengthen 9-1 (11-12) Held up in rear, headway from 4 out, ridden and weakened from 2 out, 5th of 9, 20l behind Robbie (11-6) at Doncaster 2m 4f hcp chs 0-140 (3) sft in Nov.
Galway Jack (IRE) 8-1 (11-6) Led, headed before 2 out, regained lead 2 out, kept on and headed towards finish, 2nd of 7, nk behind Robbie (11-12) at Doncaster 2m 3f hcp chs 0-140 (3) sft.
Stagecoach Pearl 8-1 (11-5) Midfield, headway 5 out, chasing leaders when jumped slowly next, stayed on under pressure approaching last, never reached winner, 2nd of 8, 1 1/4l behind Whispering Harry (10-9) at Haydock 2m hcp chs 0-135 (3) hvy.
Clondaw Knight (IRE) 5-2fav (11-12) Tracked leaders in 4th, headway before 13th, went 2nd before last, soon challenged, kept on to lead towards finish, won at Hexham 2m 4f hcp chs 0-120 (4) gs in Oct beating Qoubilai (11-9) by 1/2l, 8 ran.
Robinson Collonges (FR) 16-1 (11-1) Took keen hold, chased leaders, weakened approaching 3 out, last of 13, 40l behind Lamb Or Cod (10-0) at Chepstow 2m 4f hcp hdl Grade 3 (1) gs in Oct '12.
Alderbrook Lad (IRE) 7-2fav (10-11) Tracked leader, weakened before 8th, tailed off when pulled before 2 out, in a race won by Darna (11-11) at Sedgefield 2m 4f hcp chs 0-140 (3) sft in Nov, 7 ran.
Bobcatbilly (IRE) 16-1 (11-2) Mid-division on inside, headway chasing leaders 8th, hung left under pressure from 3 out, weakened between last 2, 5th of 12, 14l behind Bertie Boru (11-6) at Newbury 2m 6f hcp chs 0-135 (3) sft in Nov.
Premier Grand Cru (FR) 11-4 (11-0) Held up in touch, headway 4 out, went 2nd next, challenged 2 out, ridden and stayed on to lead narrowly near finish, won at Doncaster 2m 3f hcp chs 0-130 (3) gs in Nov beating Shadrack (11-8) by nk, 6 ran.
Ballymoat 11-4 (11-2) Held up towards rear, went 2nd 5 out, led 4 out, clear before 3 out, mistake last, easily, won at Southwell 2m 4f hcp chs 0-120 (4) gs beating Gold Ingot (11-10) by 8l, 7 ran.
