Back across the 66 for what at first glance looked a decent enough card, but it essentially cut up to a couple of decent events and with the rain crashing down it was only just worth the trip. It was officially soft but times suggest it wasn't that bad.
There wasn't much to glean from a modest lot in the opening novice, Clondaw Anchor looking a class apart both beforehand and during the race.
Relkadam has loads of size and scope about him and almost certainly got tired on this first outing for the Easterby yard. I don't know where they've conjured a mark of 122 from, but handicaps are probably out for now, however a northern novice should be within his grasp.
A cracking novice chase was up next with the unbeaten hurdler Vinndication transferring his form to fences first time up with a thoroughly pleasing effort against a nailing good marker in Uncle Alastair.
The runner-up was simply out-paced after the last but he looks a proper stayer who looks poised for a big winter, so long as this compact little horse can iron out the odd jumping blemish that dotted his opening effort.
Euxton Lane is another worth following back on a left-handed track. His only poor effort thus far came at Market Rasen and he went left under pressure when tiring after the last, having typically gone with plenty of zest.
Red Rising showed up well and although he was very fit, he'll want a real stamina test and this was a decent start, while Claud And Goldie went well for a long way and may be worth noting.
The mare's race saw H Skelton riding Hidden Dilemma for Stuart Crawford, surely a tip in itself, and this strong looking sort was clearly primed to run a big race, a fact confirmed when a couple of fellas started going ballistic in the stands when she skipped merrily over the last before dancing clear on the run-in.
Trooblue may not have been a party pooper had she stood up but she's a nice big chasing type and providing she's ok after being brought down is very much one to keep an eye on.
The graduation chase was the highlight and quite notable for the market drift on Nuts Well, who was pulled up after an uncharacteristic mid-race blunder. He was up against it on the figures but this was surprisingly bad.
Dolos was all the rage but he has never looked the most straight forward and although little could have been done the way it panned out, it looks like he got to the front far too soon and he was reeled in by Highway One O One.
The winner is quite leggy but loves the mud and this stiffer test clearly suited, while the third home Chesterfield isn't bred for fences at all and yet ran his usual solid race and looks every bit as good in this sphere.
Treshnish ran another solid race in behind better quality horses and this big strong individual will be found more suitable openings in the coming weeks.
Ryalex had come in for very strong support here last month and was again the one for money in a very ordinary 0-120 handicap chase, which he won by 24 lengths. Quite where they go from here I don't know.
The bumper featured an athletic former winner in Mr Scrumpy and three big future chasing types in Weakfield, I K Brunel and Tarada.
There was plenty of each-way cash for the latter and he nearly pulled it off with a fine effort despite being the most backward of them all.
I K Brunel is a nice strong sort who was well produced to win first time out, although caution may be warranted as his half-brother Somewhere To Be is not straight forward.
Weakfield was disappointing and may need plenty of time, but Mr Scrumpy ran well under his penalty and looks good enough to win a couple of northern novice hurdles.
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