held up in rear and in touch, headway 6th, went 2nd before 3 out, soon outpaced
tracked leader, weakened before 4 out
led, headed after 4 out, soon outpaced
tracked leaders, led after 4 out, clear from 2 out
Proud Times is the only course and distance winner, though he's better over hurdles despite being rated lower. Winning point-to-pointer and hurdler Oscatara has yet to make his mark over fences but three-times chase winner Have You Had Yours wouldn't have enjoyed the heavy ground at Ayr last time and would have a shout on good going. UNO VALOROSO won his first two races over fences in November and went up 8lb for his hat-trick bid the following month. He led for most of the way but the testing ground caught him out and he faded so today's quicker going can see him back to winning ways. Billy Cuckoo has won five times over fences and is 5lb lower than his last winning mark a year ago so is an obvious threat.
Oscatara (IRE) 11-2 (11-10) Tracked leader, led before 4 out, heded before 2 out, weakened before last, 4th of 6, 22l behind Revolutionary Road (10-5) at Musselburgh 2m 4f hcp chs 0-120 (4) gd in Dec.
Billy Cuckoo (IRE) 10-1 (11-11) Pressed winner, jumped left 3rd, every chance from last until held towards finish, 3rd of 10, 1 1/2l behind Bennys Well (11-6) at Carlisle 2m 4f hcp chs 0-115 (4) sft.
Proud Times (USA) 10-1 (11-12) Led until after 5th, lost place before 3 out, 9th of 17, well behind Easy Beesy (11-9) at Wincanton 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-105 (4) sft.
Uno Valoroso (FR) 7-4fav (11-9) Led, headed run-in, no extra and lost 2nd place close home, 3rd of 6, 9l behind Amethyst Rose (11-2) at Hexham 2m hcp 0-100 (5) hvy in Dec.
Have You Had Yours (IRE) 11-1 (10-6) Towards rear, went 4th before 9th, no extra run-in, 5th of 7, 21l behind Silverton (10-10) at Ayr 2m 4f hcp ch 0-110 (4) hvy in Jan.
