tracked leaders, weakened from 5 out
in rear, went 5th before 3 out, no impression
held up mid-division, pushed along before 8th, one pace and no impression
led, ridden and clear before last, kept on and headed towards finish
held up towards rear, headway to go 4th before 3 out, kept on from last
tracked leaders, mistake 8th, lost place and in rear before 10th
prominent, ridden before last, kept on to lead towards finish
held up towards rear, headway to take 2nd from 12th, challenged 2 out, kept on run-in
Billy Cuckoo won't mind the ground and was in good form prior to unseating his rider at Wetherby. Saddle Pack came back to form at Kelso but has shot up the weights as a result while On Broadway and Barnevelder are returning from winter breaks and the latter is having his first start for new connections. MASTER MILAN hasn't shown a great deal so far this season but is starting to slip down the weights again and AP McCoy, who was on board when he won at Ffos Las last spring, is back in the saddle today. He gets a tentative vote in this finale, though it would be no surprise to see Oil Burner put a poor run at Kelso behind him back here.
Master Milan (IRE) 12-1 (11-9) Held up towards rear, weakened before 3 out, 7th of 8, 35l behind Back Bob Back (11-7) at Doncaster 2m 3f hcp chs 0-120 (4) gs in Jan.
Willie Hall 12-1 (10-11) In rear, fell 8th, in a race won by Mcmurrough (11-7) at Wetherby 2m 4f hcp chs 0-135 (3) hvy in Dec, 7 ran.
On Broadway 9-2 (11-4) Led to 12th, led again 13th, headed before and blundered 2 out, soon weakened, 3rd of 6, 11l behind Our Island (11-4) at Kelso 2m 7f nov chs (4) hvy in Oct.
Billy Cuckoo (IRE) 7-2 (11-3) Tracked leaders in 3rd, blundered and unseated rider 7th, in a race won by Dashing George (11-12) at Wetherby 2m 4f hcp chs 0-115 (4) sft in Jan, 5 ran.
Saddle Pack (IRE) 10-1 (10-12) Held up in touch, left 2nd briefly 5th, challenged after 3 out, led next, drew clear from last, won at Kelso 2m 1f hcp ch 0-110 (4) hvy in Jan beating Prince Tam (10-5) by 11l, 6 ran.
Barnevelder (IRE) 11-1 (11-9) Soon mid-division, reminders 5th, ridden in 9th after 6 out, progress to chase leaders after 3 out, no impression and kept on same pace from before next, 5th of 16, 14l behind Kilmurry Kid (10-12) at Tramore 2m 6f hcp chs 0-95 sft in Oct.
Bertie Milan (IRE) 10-1 (11-9) Held up in rear, headway from 13th, not fluent next, weakened before 2 out, 4th of 10, 31l behind Shadow Boxer (10-3) at Ayr 3m 1f hcp chs 0-100 (5) hvy in Jan.
Oil Burner 7-2 (10-1) Held up in touch, short lived effort on outside 4 out, weakened after next, pulled up before 2 out, in a race won by Rolecarr (11-5) at Kelso 2m 7f hcp chs 0-120 (4) hvy in Dec, 7 ran.
