with leader, led 3rd, headed 8th, beaten before 2 out, plugged on
led until 3rd, not fluent 4th, mistake next, led after 4 out, headed 3 out, beaten next, weakened before last
held up, not much room 1st, soon switched to outside, close 3rd 8th, good jump to lead 3 out, clear next, stayed on
jumped right at times, held up, mistake 6th, pecked slightly 3 out, stayed on approaching last, went 2nd flat, no impression on winner
in rear, pushed along and in touch behind leaders final bend, no impression 3 out, well beaten 2 out
jumped left, chased leaders, not fluent 5th, led 8th, headed after 4 out, not much room 3 out, no impression on winner from 2 out, lost 2nd flat
OUT ON THE TEAR (NAP) won this last year and has only had three subsequent starts, the last two in better company. He'll be 6lb higher with his rider's reduced claim taken into account but looks the one to beat. Relkadam is just 1lb higher than when scoring here last December though that was over 2m3f and more rain would aid his cause. Coolkill won a Perth novices' hurdle in the spring and was found to be coughing post-race after pulling up on his chasing debut at Kelso in October where he came in for support. Irish import Cenotice beat an odds-on chance on his debut for Donald McCain at Perth but there were only three runners and he hasn't shown much improvement.
Cenotice 18-1 (12-0) Chased leaders, lost place 5th, ridden and weakened before 2 out, 6th of 7, 13 1/2l behind Dr Sanderson (11-4) at Ayr 2m hcp (4) gs in Nov.
Coolkill (IRE) 3-1jfav (11-9) Held up in rear in touch, weakened from 4 out, pulled up before 2 out, at Kelso 2m 1f hcp (4) gd in Oct.
Out On The Tear (IRE) 11-2 (11-4) Held up in last quartet, headway in 4th from 2 out, plugged on run-in, 5th of 9, 9 1/2l behind One True King (12-1) at Sandown 2m hcp (3) gs in Dec.
Full Of Surprises (FR) 14-1 (11-4) Held up in last, outpaced 4 out, soon weakened, last of 4, dist behind Elios D'Or (10-11) at Worcester 2m hcp (4) gd in Jul.
Relkadam (FR) 22-1 (12-4) In touch, headway 9th, chased clear leader 3 out, ridden and every chance last, kept on one pace, 4th of 13, 8l behind The Boat (10-6) at Market Rasen 2m 3f hcp (5) sft in Dec.
Claret Dabbler 17-2 (10-1) Towards rear, slow 6th, struggling from 8th, 7th of 8, dist behind Tonto's Spirit (11-10) at Cartmel 2m 1f hcp (4) gd in Jun.
