held up in touch, went 3rd before 5 out, one pace and no impression, jumped last tired
towards rear, headway before 4 out, ridden before 2 out, soon weakened
tracked leaders in 3rd, pushed along before 7th, soon lost place
tracked leaders in 3rd, chased winner before 5th, ridden before 2 out, kept on and no impression
tracked winner until before 5th, weakened before 4 out, pulled up
made all, clear after 2 out, kept on well
in rear, weakened before 4 out
Abnaki goes well for a claimer and Tommie O'Brien's 10lb allowance will aid his cause but namesake Tom O'Brien could hold all the aces aboard CYRIEN STAR. He hacked up at Wetherby and Haydock last month and can improve again to complete the hat-trick. Awaywiththegreys gets little respite from the handicapper but Lienosus has to be of interest going handicapping for the first time and is preferred to Heronry and the four-year-old Rapid Heat Lad. Nicky Nutjob is a couple of pounds out of the handicap and looks vulnerable in this grade.
Awaywiththegreys (IRE) 8-1 (11-12) Tracked leaders, not much room 4th, closed 7th, led before 3 out, soon headed, not fluent 2 out, still every chance last, no impression on winner final 150 yards, stayed on same pace, 2nd of 6, 4l behind Ballyculla (11-8) at Ffos Las 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-130 (3) sft in Nov.
Lienosus (IRE) 9-4 (11-0) Tracked leader until 3rd, handy 3rd, stumbled 5th, blundered next, went 2nd again 4 out, no chance with winner when lost 2nd 2 out, kept on one pace in 3rd, 3rd of 7, 13l behind Timesremembered (11-0) at Chepstow 2m 4f nov hdl G2 (1) sft in Oct.
Abnaki (IRE) 4-1 (11-7) Not fluent 1st, tracked leader until 4th, ridden after 9th, weakened approaching 3 out, tailed off, 5th of 6, 47l behind Pension Plan (11-10) at Ffos Las 3m hcp hdl 0-135 (3) hvy in Nov.
Heronry (IRE) 4-1 (11-3) Held up in touch, mistake 5th and in rear, not fluent 8th, struggling 9th, tailed off when pulled up before 6 out, in a race won by Black Thunder (11-3) at Fontwell 2m 4f beg chs (4) sft in Oct, 6 ran.
Rapid Heat Lad (IRE) 9-4 (11-5) Led, clear briefly after 3rd, not fluent and headed 6th, outpaced 3 out, well held 4th 2 out, went 3rd flat, 3rd of 5, 13l behind Tidal Way (10-12) at Bangor 2m 1f 3yo hdl (4) gs in Oct '12.
Cyrien Star 4-1fav (10-2) Always prominent, led before 7th, 5 lengthes clear 3 out, soon hard driven, not fluent 2 out, stayed on strongly, won at Haydock 3m hcp hdl 0-130 (3) sft in Nov beating Fighter Jet (11-7) by 3 1/2l, 13 ran.
Nicky Nutjob (GER) 10-1 (9-7) Held up in touch in rear, hit 5th, headway 7th, lost place when mistake 9th, soon beaten, plugged on from 2 out, 4th of 6, 22l behind Pension Plan (11-10) at Ffos Las 3m hcp hdl 0-135 (3) hvy in Nov.
