led, clear 3rd, jumped left 3 out, ridden and headed next, kept on same pace
held up in rear, headway approaching 3 out, ridden and kept on same pace
held up in touch, headway to chase leader 3 out, led next, ran on strongly flat
close up, chased leader 4 out, ridden next, kept on same pace
held up, ridden 3 out, blundered next, never on terms
tracked leaders, ridden 3 out, soon weakened
towards rear, outpaced 4 out, tailed off when pulled up soon after 2 out
tracked leaders, ridden 4 out, outpaced next, rallied last, kept on same pace
tracked leader, ridden 3 out, weakened 2 out
in touch, ridden 4 out, weakened next, tailed off when pulled up before last
Murchison River was runner-up over 2m4f here last month, a week after winning at Leicester, but is 3lb higher and unlikely to be much of a price. Imperial Focus, Empire De Maulde and Dark Ruler all seem to have a similar chance at the weights and shouldn’t be far away but we’ll take FARLAM KING to cause an upset. He only weakened approaching the last at Hexham last time and is making his handicap debut of a very low mark in an uninspiring novices’ race.
Dark Ruler (IRE) 33-1 (11-5) Led, headed and pushed left 3 out, chased leader, pushed left again next, lost 2nd between last 2, weakened run-in, lost 4th near finish, 5th of 12, 11 3/4l behind Whoshotthesheriff (11-5) at Ayr 2m (4) sft in Jan.
Tim Rocco (GER) 50-1 (10-12) Always towards rear, 11th of 18, 36 1/2l behind The Some Dance Kid (11-5) at Bangor 2m 1f (4) sft in Dec.
Empire De Maulde (FR) 9-1 (11-12) Chased leaders on inside, outpaced in 4th when ridden after 3 out, weakened after next, tailed off, 7th of 11, dist behind Xpo Universel (11-4) at Kelso 2m hcp (4) gs in Dec.
Imperial Focus (IRE) 40-1 (11-12) Close up, ridden 2 out, stayed on towards finish, 4th of 13, 1 3/4l behind Wot A Shot (11-3) at Musselburgh 2m hcp (4) gd in Jan.
Emissaire (FR) 40-1 (10-12) In touch in rear, struggling 4 out, tailed off after next, 4th of 5, dist behind Captain Zebo (11-4) at Carlisle 2m 3f (4) sft in Dec.
Eagle Ridge (IRE) 33-1 (10-12) Mid-division, struggling after 3 out, weakened before next, 7th of 11, dist behind Mighty Thunder (10-12) at Kelso 2m 7f mdn (4) gd in Dec.
Friends In Heaven (IRE) 66-1 (10-12) Always towards rear, 11th of 14, dist behind Kick On Dottie (10-11) at Hexham 2m 4f (4) gd in May.
Murchison River 7-2fav (11-3) Held up mid-division, smooth headway on outside after 4 out, close up next, every chance 2 out, soon ridden, kept on same pace, no impression with winner flat, 2nd of 10, 2 3/4l behind Lastin' Memories (10-11) at Newcastle 2m 5f hcp (5) gs in Dec.
Farlam King 150-1 (10-12) Led, mistake 3rd, headed after next, weakened after 2 out, hampered last, 8th of 14, 18 3/4l behind Weather Front (10-12) at Hexham 2m (4) gd in Nov.
Rapid Fritz (IRE) 200-1 (10-0) Chased leaders on outside, outpaced 3 out, never able to challenge, 6th of 9, 19l behind Copt Hill (10-0) at Newcastle 2m hcp (5) gs in Dec.
