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Off time: 14:36 | Winning time: 6m 5.10s

Thedrinkymeister^p²⁶⁹

Age: 10| Weight: 11-12| J: M Hamill⁽³⁾| T: H D Daly| OR: 127

4/1

Noteworthy as the sole declared runner on this card for Shropshire trainer Henry Daly (0-4 at Newcastle); 9lb higher than when making all to score by 12L at Market Rasen (3m, heavy) in April; his fencing isn't always the most fluent.

Form: 4/F2271-

Donna's Delight^p1³⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 11-8| J: Sean Quinlan| T: A M Thomson| OR: 123

3/1

Bred for chasing as a brother to the 4m stayer Knockanrawley; improved in terms of fencing as the race progressed over C&D in December (when beaten a distance by Polydora); cheekpieces now applied; more required.

Form: 4232-73

Ascot De Bruyere^b²⁷

Age: 9| Weight: 11-2| J: B S Hughes| T: J Ewart| OR: 117| CD

7/4

C&D winner in nigh unraceable conditions from a 7lb lower mark in April; fair sixth of 16 (beaten 11L) on his seasonal return in the 4m Borders National at Kelso; holds a definite chance in a competitive race.

Form: 41P/1-76

Catchamat¹⁶

Age: 10| Weight: 10-11| J: Jamie Hamilton| T: J Walton| OR: 112| C

8/1

Lightly raced for her age and 2-2 at this track (2m4f-2m6f) over hurdles in early 2017; set plenty to do over 2m at Hexham latest (on her second chase start) and looks intriguingly handicapped off 112; no complete back-number.

Form: 0666-43

Fly Rory Fly^b,t²³

Age: 7| Weight: 10-9| J: Lucy Alexander| T: N W Alexander| OR: 110

11/2

Slipping gradually in the weights following a quiet spell of form (has made four starts for Nick Alexander); plenty of further improvement is required based upon his 20+L fourth to Blakerigg over C&D (Class 4) in December.

Form: 294-264

Ever So Much^p³⁸

Age: 10| Weight: 10-6| J: R P McLernon| T: B Haslam| OR: 107

28/1

Multiple chase winner whose last two successes came back-to-back at Hexham (2m4f, good) in the summer; easing in the weights; pulled up when last in competitive action in November and out of his depth in this contest.

Form: 17254P

Non-Runners

Grand Morning¹

Weight: 11-12| Age: 7

T: Miss Lucinda V Russell J: Non Runner

Samstown²⁰

Weight: 11-7| Age: 12

T: A C Whillans J: Henry Brooke

Forecasts

Ascot De Bruyere (7/4), Donna's Delight (3/1), Thedrinkymeister (4/1), Fly Rory Fly (11/2), Grand Morning (7/1), Catchamat (8/1), Samstown (14/1), Ever So Much (28/1)

Grand Morning was a promising hurdler so deserves another chance over fences after a dismal first attempt at Carlisle in November, whilst the intriguingly handicapped Catchamat (2-2 at Newcastle) would rate as an obvious in-running each-way play if ridden more positively. Samstown has the ability but maybe not the legs at the age of 12 and the mere presence of a Henry Daly-trained runner at Newcastle is noteworthy, with the caveat that Thedrinkymeister might well clout a couple of these stiff fences. Therefore, the safest option is the April C&D winner ASCOT DE BRUYERE who ran a reasonable race on his seasonal return in the 4m Borders National at Kelso.