tracked leaders, mistake and lost place 7th, mistake and ridden next, behind from 9th, pulled up after 3 out
held up, headway 4th, challenged 2 out, led last, driven out
led until 5th, led after next, driven and headed 2 out, 3rd and beaten from last, one pace
tracked leader, led 5th, headed after next, driven to lead again 2 out, headed last, stayed on same pace flat
in rear, pushed along before 3rd, headway 6th, mistake 10th, ridden 4 out, 5th and beaten when mistake 3 out, weakened
held up towards rear, not fluent 3rd, headway after 7th, jumped slowly and lost place 10th, weakened before 4 out, pulled up before next
held up in touch, ridden 4 out, beaten 4th 3 out, weakened next
Nonrunner
Courtown Oscar bids for a fourth win in five starts but his only defeat came in this grade when 14lb lower. Wizards Bridge hasn't had much luck around here in the past and fortune again deserted him at Newcastle last time when he just failed to overhaul Smooth Stepper. He's been raised a couple of pounds for that and looks a tricky ride but SUBTLE GREY (NAP) appears straightforward and kept finding when beating three rivals over 2m5f at Carlisle. The longer trip here won’t be a problem and, as he'll handle conditions better than most, Donald McCain's grey can double his tally over fences. Jennys Surprise should be winning soon judged on her second at Lingfield but Ozzy Thomas is becoming expensive to follow.
Wizards Bridge 7-2jfav (11-5) Tracked leaders, ridden after 4 out, lost place and no impression next, rallied after last, stayed on well to take 2nd near finish, just held, 2nd of 9, 3/4l behind Smooth Stepper (11-1) at Newcastle 2m 7f hcp (3) sft in Nov.
Racing Pulse (IRE) 10-1 (10-12) Tracked leaders, slow 1st, pecked next, went 2nd 7th until 10th, weakened 3 out, 5th of 7, 32 1/4l behind Coologue (10-12) at Bangor 2m 4f (4) gd in Oct.
Jennys Surprise (IRE) 4-1 (10-7) Led, joined 3 out, driven flat, headed towards finish, 2nd of 6, 1 1/2l behind Warrantor (11-0) at Lingfield 2m 7f (4) hvy in Dec.
Subtle Grey (IRE) 7-4 (11-4) Made all, ridden after 3 out, soon strongly challenged, stayed on strongly closing stages, 3 fences omitted, won at Carlisle 2m 5f hcp (3) hvy in Dec beating Morning Royalty (11-0) by 1 1/2l, 4 ran.
Heronshaw (IRE) 6-1 (11-12) Behind, mistake 5th, headway chasing leaders 8th, pushed along and weakened before 14th, tailed off and pulled up before 4 out, at Exeter 3m 7f hcp (3) hvy in Dec.
Courtown Oscar (IRE) 5-6fav (11-0) Chased leaders, went 2nd after 4th, led approaching 6th, headed 8th, led again 11th, drew clear from 2nd last, comfortably (2 fences ommited), won at Wetherby 3m hcp (4) sft in Dec beating Joseph Mercer (10-3) by 8l, 6 ran.
Berea Boru (IRE) 25-1 (11-1) With leader, reminder and lost place 10th, outpaced before 5 out, soon no chance with leaders, left remote 4th 3 out, 4th of 8, 37l behind Kingswell Theatre (11-8) at Chepstow 3m hcp (3) hvy in Dec.
Ozzy Thomas (IRE) 3-1fav (11-2) Always about same pace in mid-division, pushed along when not fluent 8th, struggling after, plugged on run-in, 5th of 9, 24 3/4l behind Hollywoodien (10-7) at Ascot 2m 1f hcp (3) sft in Dec.
