held up towards rear, headway after 4 out, went 2nd 2 out, no impression on winner final 150 yards
mid-division, jumped left 2nd, headway 4 out, shaken up before 2 out, kept on same pace
led until 1st, prominent, not fluent 4th, ridden 4 out, lost place approaching 3 out
tracked leaders, went 2nd 3 out until 2 out, stayed on same pace flat
prominent, pushed along after 4 out, 4th and one pace when mistake and unseated rider 2 out
took keen hold, made virtually all, not fluent last, stayed on strongly
held up in rear, well behind after 4 out, pulled up before next
held up, racing awkwardly from after 4 out, hung left and stayed on approaching 2 out, never able to get on terms
held up, lost place before 3 out
Sir Safir's victory at Catterick was franked when the runner-up went one better next time at Sedgefield. Peter Niven's five-year-old is worth a second look on his handicap debut while Knight In Purple has won twice over course and distance and beat a subsequent winner at Doncaster in December. Arthur's Secret has his sights lowered but will probably be back over fences shortly and Le Fin Bois is likely to need more time. MAD FOR ROAD was beaten at Sedgefield last week when attempting to follow up an earlier victory at that track but he's yet to run a bad race since arriving from Ireland and may be worth another chance off a low weight.
Le Fin Bois (FR) 10-1 (11-4) Tracked leaders, driven and one pace before 2 out, no chance with leaders before last, 4th of 7, 21l behind Oscar Sunset (11-4) at Taunton 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-135 (3) hvy in Jan.
Sir Safir 9-4fav (11-2) Tracked leaders in 4th, went 3rd before 2 out, soon challenged leader, ridden before last, soon switched to stands rail, kept on to lead close home, won at Catterick 2m mdn hdl (5) sft in Feb beating Venue (11-2) by nk, 8 ran.
Arthur's Secret (FR) 20-1 (10-9) Held up in touch, driven to chase leaders 3 out, soon ridden and one pace, weakened last, 6th of 9, 16l behind Royal Guardsman (10-13) at Newbury 2m hcp hdl 0-140 (3) sft in Feb.
Knight In Purple 9-1 (11-9) Chased leaders, challenged 2 out, no extra flat, 3rd of 11, 5l behind Special Wells (10-12) at Wetherby 2m hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gs in Dec.
Short Takes (USA) 7-2 (11-12) Chased leaders, went 2nd after 3rd, driven to challenge 3 our, lost place before next, kept on same pace, 3rd of 5, 16l behind Hear The Chimes (11-5) at Huntingdon 2m hcp hdl 0-115 (4) sft.
Mr Burbidge 13-2 (11-1) Led, hit 5th, ridden and headed 2 out, still every chance last, kept on one pace, 3rd of 7, 4 1/2l behind Aviator (11-1) at Fakenham 2m nh nov hdl (4) gs.
Ebazan (USA) 16-1 (10-4) Soon md-division, 15th after 3rd, pushed along briefly after 5th, under pressure towards rear before 4 out, no impression next, tailed off, 19th of 24, well behind Peoples Park (10-6) at Fairyhouse 2m 4f hcp hdl 80-116 in Nov.
Mad For Road (IRE) 85-40fav (11-3) Tracked leaders in 4th, kept on to take 2nd place run-in, no chance with winner, 2nd of 7, 5l behind Typhon (10-3) at Sedgefield 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gs.
Stormbay Bomber (IRE) 100-1 (10-12) Mistake 1st, mid-division, weakened 3 out, 10th of 14, well behind Chieftain's Choice (11-5) at Catterick 2m 3f nh nov hdl (4) gs in Dec.
