led, not fluent 8th, mistake 4 out, not fluent next, headed 2 out, led again flat, stayed on stongly
held up, left 3rd and slightly hampered at the 3rd, not fluent 3 out, soon outpaced, weakened next
tracked leaders, jumped left 1st, left 2nd at the 3rd, not fluent 3 out, led 2 out, driven and headed flat, no impression towards finish
with winner, fell 3rd
held up, left 4th and hampered at the 3rd, disputing 3rd from the 7th, not fluent 3 out, soon beaten, weakened before next
Kerry Lee sent out last year’s winner but Top Gamble has become hard to place. Hell's Kitchen continues to be hampered by his jumping and a drop back in distance may not help his cause but Yorkist was always travelling well when returning from a lengthy absence to win at Aintree, though seems best on flat tracks. Bun Doran was another to have impressed in the way he travelled here last month and the second in that race has gone close again since but OZZIE THE OSCAR is just preferred. Richard Johnson is back on board the top weight and is the only jockey to have won on Philip Hobbs’ seven-year-old so far. He had Theinval behind last time at Ascot and may get an uncontested lead in this small field.
Ozzie The Oscar (IRE) 15-2 (11-12) Chased leaders, went 2nd before 3rd and clear of rest, pushed along before 2 out, no impression when lost 2nd between last 2, weakened run-in, 5th of 13, 10 1/2l behind Caid Du Lin (10-11) at Ascot 2m 1f hcp (2) gs in Nov.
Theinval (FR) 16-1 (11-8) Off the pace in mid-division, weakened 4 out, 9th of 13, 19 1/2l behind Caid Du Lin (10-11) at Ascot 2m 1f hcp (2) gs in Nov.
Bun Doran (IRE) 9-4fav (11-10) Raced keenly, tracked front pair, went 2nd at 7th, led after 3 out, quickened clear after next, soon ridden, ran on well, comfortably, won at Cheltenham 2m hcp (2) gd in Nov beating Movie Legend (10-10) by 8l, 7 ran.
Top Gamble (IRE) 9-2 (11-12) Held up towards rear, hampered 5th, steady headway from 8th, 4th and one pace from last, 4th of 10, 19 1/4l behind Lady Buttons (11-3) at Newbury 2m hcp (2) sft in Dec.
Yorkist (IRE) 14-1 (11-5) Held up in rear on outside, headway from 8th, going well 2 out, led before last, clear flat, easily, won at Aintree 2m hcp (3) gd in Nov beating Theflyingportrait (11-10) by 6l, 11 ran.
Hell's Kitchen 4-1 (11-8) Mid-division, took keen hold, headway on outside 10th, hanging left and no impression before 3 out, well beaten from next, 7th of 11, dist behind War Sound (10-13) at Aintree 2m 4f hcp (2) gd in Nov.
