made all, not fluent 3 out, clear approaching last, stayed on
tracked leaders, close 3rd when fell 3 out
in touch in rear, jumped slowly 6th, blundered and rider lost iron briefly 16th, left 3rd 3 out, weakening when mistake next
pressed winner, not fluent 9th or 18th, ridden after 2 out, soon beaten
held up in rear, hit 2nd, mistake 7th, hit 11th, mistake 16th, weakened next, pulled up before 18th
held up in touch, ridden and outpaced in 5th after 17th, left 4th when weakening 3 out, pulled up before last
A below-standard renewal and the vote goes to BELON GALE despite top-weight. Howard Johnson's gelding has a solid record fresh and this strong-staying gelding is proven on stamina sapping ground. Classic Cut may be his biggest rival; he signed off with a fine third to Ernst Blofeld at Carlisle in March and should have lots more to give as just a six-year-old. See You There is a course winner and he is able to race off an attractive mark after an unsuccessful 2009. Camden George is another whose perch looks feasible, a comment that also applies to Carry Duff who makes his seasonal return today but his last win came in May 2008 on quick ground. The Green Hat completes the field but from two stone out of the weights he has plenty on his hands.
Belon Gale (IRE) 13-2 (9-11) Led, soon clear, hit 10th, ridden after 2 out, headed after last, kept on gamely flat, held near finish, 2nd of 5, nk behind Money Trix (11-3) at Kelso 2m 6f hcp chs 0-120 (2) sft in Dec.
Classic Cut 7-2 (11-1) Tracked leader, blundered 1st, went left and reminder next, tended to jump left after, challenged 4 out, every chance next, ridden and edged left after last, kept on, lost 2nd flat, 3rd of 5, 4l behind Ernst Blofeld (11-4) at Carlisle 3m nov chs (3) gs in Mar.
See You There (IRE) 16-1 (10-12) Held up towards rear, mistake 8th, weakened from 6 out, 7th of 15, 44l behind Etxalar (10-10) at Carlisle 3m 2f hcp chs 0-135 (3) sft in Oct.
Camden George (IRE) 22-1 (10-7) Mid-division, hit 9th, ridden 2 out, plugged on, 5th of 15, 18l behind Etxalar (10-10) at Carlisle 3m 2f hcp chs 0-135 (3) sft in Oct.
Carryduff 9-2 (11-7) Held up in touch, headway to track leading pair after 13th, ridden after 4 out, 5 lengths 3rd and under pressure when fell next, in a race won by Tank Buster (11-9) at Market Rasen 3m 5f hcp chs 0-105 (4) hvy in Dec, 6 ran.
The Green Hat (IRE) 3-1 (10-4) Led and soon clear until 13th, headed approaching 3 out, soon weakened and tailed off, refused last, continued, 3rd of 4, well behind Matmata de Tendron (11-1) at Hexham 3m 1f hcp chs 0-95 (5) hvy.
