Oh Land Abloom won at Plumpton before beaten off today’s mark at Market Rasen but SAM RED (NAP) was winning off a higher mark over fences in October. The latter returned to the smaller obstacles with a good effort at Sandown recently and can go close in this lower grade despite carrying top weight. He’s preferred to stablemate Blairs Cove but Terry The Fish was in good form before failing to complete behind the selection at Sandown and better is expected here. Wicked Spice hasn’t raced since winning a chase at Perth last year and is 10lb higher back over timber while stable companion Another Bill continues to struggle along with Capote and Muthabir is upped in class after scoring at Kempton.
Sam Red (FR) 7-1 (11-2) Held up towards rear, jumped slowly 1st and 2nd, driven and headway after 3 out, chased leaders next, weakened before last, 4th of 8, 11 1/2l behind Holly Bush Henry (10-12) at Sandown 2m 7f hcp (2) gs in Dec.
Oh Land Abloom (IRE) 11-1 (11-3) Tracked leaders, ridden when hit 2 out, kept on one pace, 4th of 8, 11l behind Arthur's Gift (10-5) at Market Rasen 2m 5f hcp (2) gs in Nov.
Terry The Fish (IRE) 7-1 (10-12) Tracked leader, jumped slowly 1st, blundered badly 3 out, weakened quickly and pulled up before next, at Sandown 2m 7f hcp (2) gs in Dec.
Nautical Nitwit (IRE) 14-1 (11-9) Always behind, 8th of 13, 29l behind Red Rising (10-11) at Southwell 3m hcp (3) gd in Dec.
Another Bill (IRE) 10-1 (11-4) Towards rear, struggling 10th, tailed off, 8th of 13, 37 1/4l behind Mister Whitaker (10-6) at Carlisle 2m 4f hcp (3) gs in Nov.
Blairs Cove 7-2 (11-10) Held up in touch, tracked leaders after 4 out, went 3rd before next, ridden and outpaced by front pair before last, no impression after, 3rd of 6, 7 3/4l behind Oski (10-12) at Doncaster 3m (4) gd in Dec.
Wicked Spice (IRE) 5-1 (11-6) Hampered 1st, held up, headway 4 out, chasing leader when jumped sharply left 2 out and rider lost irons and saddle slipped, left in lead next, ridden out, won at Perth 3m hcp (4) sft in Jul beating Kinari (11-12) by 11l, 6 ran.
Muthabir (IRE) 5-1 (11-9) Mid-division, headway 3 out, every chance from next, stayed on strongly to lead close home, won at Kempton 3m hcp (4) gs in Nov beating Good Man Pat (11-12) by nk, 9 ran.
Capote (IRE) 4-1 (11-8) Led to 6th, with leader, led again briefly 9th, lost place 14th, under pressure when fell 5 out, at Wetherby 3m hcp (4) sft in Dec.
Allbarnone 11-1 (11-10) Led, headed 3 out, ridden before 2 out, no extra from last, 5th of 8, 7 1/2l behind Skipthescales (10-12) at Wetherby 3m hcp (4) gs in Nov.
