prominent, led before 7 out, headed 4 out, weakened before 2 out
held up towards rear, headway before 4 out, ridden before 2 out, in 3rd before last, kept on same pace
held up mid-division, headway 6 out, led before last, kept on and headed run-in
in rear, pushed along before 4 out, weakened from 2 out
held up towards rear, mistake 7 out, every chance in 3rd when fell 2 out
tracked leaders and keen, joined leader 2nd, lost place before 5 out
led, joined 2nd, headed before 7 out, regained lead 4 out, headed before last, rallied to regain lead run-in, very game
A very competitive handicap which is sure to be run at a strong gallop as Ozzie The Oscar made most when successful last time at Cheltenham and Beau Bay did likewise when beating Nuts Well just under four lengths at Wetherby earlier this month. FOREST BIHAN (NAP) couldn’t quicken when third to Cracking Find in last month’s Castleford Chase at Wetherby but was only beaten a couple of lengths and is 4lb better off with Sue Smith’s charge. He is 6lb lower than when fourth in this last year and can pick up a first victory of the campaign as he’ll be suited by the way the race is likely to be run. Champagne At Tara and Modus were both behind Ozzie The Oscar at Ascot in November and haven’t raced since.
Ozzie The Oscar (IRE) 11-4 (11-12) Led, not fluent 8th, mistake 4 out, not fluent next, headed 2 out, led again flat, stayed on stongly, won at Cheltenham 2m hcp (2) gd in Dec beating Bun Doran (11-7) by 3 1/2l, 5 ran.
Modus 6-1 (11-8) Raced wide, off the pace in mid-division, lost place 6th, blundered next, soon behind, tailed off when blundered 4 out, 10th of 13, dist behind Caid Du Lin (10-11) at Ascot 2m 1f hcp (2) gs in Nov.
Forest Bihan (FR) 7-1 (11-12) Chased leaders, every chance 3 out, hard ridden next, no extra closing stages, 3rd of 7, 2 1/4l behind Cracking Find (10-3) at Wetherby 1m 7f hcp (2) gs in Dec.
Champagne At Tara 25-1 (11-3) Towards rear, some headway before 2 out, plugged on, 6th of 13, 12 1/4l behind Caid Du Lin (10-11) at Ascot 2m 1f hcp (2) gs in Nov.
Nuts Well 11-2 (11-7) Held up in last pair, tracked leaders 5 out, mistake next, went 2nd 2 out, ridden and kept on flat, no threat to winner, 2nd of 5, 3 3/4l behind Beau Bay (10-9) at Wetherby 1m 7f hcp (2) gd in Jan.
Beau Bay (FR) 11-4 (10-9) Made all, 3 lengths advantage when not fluent 4 out, driven clear before next, always in command after, ridden out towards finish, won at Wetherby 1m 7f hcp (2) gd in Jan beating Nuts Well (11-7) by 3 3/4l, 5 ran.
Cracking Find (IRE) 7-2 (10-3) Led until 2nd, remained prominent, led again before 4 out, strongly challenged from 3 out and throughout run in, all out, held on gamely, won at Wetherby 1m 7f hcp (2) gs in Dec beating Marracudja (10-11) by ns, 7 ran.
