close up, led 4th, ridden and headed last 100 yards, no extra
chased leaders, ridden after last, led last 100 yards, kept on
held up in touch, tailed off from 11th
held up mid-division, went 5th 6 out, pecked 2 out, weakened before last
chased leaders, fell 3rd
towards rear, pushed along 6th, never dangerous
mid-division, in rear and reminders 7th, soon pulled up
held up towards rear, headway 7th, stayed on same pace from 4 out
led to 4th, chased leaders, mistake last, soon weakened
Billy Cuckoo failed to follow-up his Wetherby win when a well beaten third at Market Rasen and Tipsy Dara could only manage fourth last time after scoring at Hexham in October. OIL BURNER gets a chance to show he's more consistent as he won over C&D on his return to action and remains on a decent mark compared to his best rating over hurdles. Shoal Bay Dreamer is another recent winner who failed to cope with a rise in the weights last time though he wasn't beaten far and may figure once again.
Billy Cuckoo (IRE) 85-40fav (12-2) Not fluent tracked leading pair, ridden 10th, kept on but no chance with leading pair, 3rd of 5, 19l behind Pickworth (11-4) at Market Rasen 2m 4f hcp 0-100 (5) sft in Nov.
Tipsy Dara (IRE) 5-2fav (11-5) Tracked winner until 3 out, soon weakened, 4th of 6, 18l behind Royal Mackintosh (11-4) at Carlisle 3m 2f hcp chs 0-105 (4) sft in Nov.
Saddle Pack (IRE) 7-1 (11-4) Mid-division, weakened 10th, behind when pulled up before 3 out, in a race won by Brave Spartacus (10-13) at Catterick 2m 3f hcp 0-100 (5) gs, 12 ran.
Oil Burner 11-4 (11-4) Held up in touch on outside, steady headway 4 out, challenged 2 out, led narrowly last, ridden and held on flat, won at Carlisle 2m 4f hcp 0-100 (5) sft in Oct beating Bertie Milan (11-7) by 1 1/4l, 6 ran.
Fightstar (FR) 3-1 (10-11) Held up in touch in 4th, weakened from 3 out, tailed off, pulled up last, in a race won by Shoal Bay Dreamer (9-13) at Hexham 2m 4f hcp chs 0-100 (5) sft in Nov, 5 ran.
Hawthorne Bay 200-1 (10-8) Held up behind, headway before 8th, weakened 5 out, 10th of 11, well behind Aland Islands (11-1) at Newcastle 2m 4f nov chs (4) gs in Nov.
Man Of Principles (IRE) 7-2 (10-12) Prominent when not fluent 1st, chased leaders, went 2nd 9th, hit 2 out, no impression on winner before last, one pace, 2nd of 7, 5l behind Fog Patches (10-10) at Hexham 2m 4f hcp chs 0-100 (5) hvy in Jun.
Domoly (FR) 8-1 (9-9) Tracked leaders, struggling 9th, behind from 4 out, tailed off, 6th of 8, well behind Ballyallia Man (11-11) at Market Rasen 2m 4f hcp chs 0-115 (4) sft in Apr.
Shoal Bay Dreamer 5-2 (10-13) Led to 8th, led 3 out, ridden before last, weakened and headed last 100 yards, 4th of 5, 4 1/2l behind Samson Collonges (10-7) at Hexham 2m 4f nov hcp chs 0-95 (5) hvy in Nov.