held up towards rear, headway before 4 out, soon led, clear before last, kept on well
led, ridden before 4 out, soon headed, one pace in 3rd before last
always behind, weakened from 3 out
towards rear, headway before 4 out, chased winner from 3 out, kept on and no impression
tracked leader, weakened before 2 out
tracked leaders in 3rd, pushed along before 4 out, close up and fell 4 out
Boa Island has won twice at Wincanton recently in lesser company. He's escaped a penalty after Saturday's success in a conditionals' race but will have to work harder for victory here. Fact Of The Matter beat Easy Street over course and distance last month but the runner-up is 5lb better off and could turn the tables. Sykes has won three times over hurdles and also a point-to-point and should make a chaser while Laurium will have learned plenty from his third at Hereford. MINELLACELEBRATION rallied strongly to open his account over fences at Aintree and any further improvement could see him make amends for a surprise defeat here earlier.
Laurium 3-1 (11-4) In rear, left 3rd from before 10th, ridden before 2 out, one pace, 3rd of 4, 19l behind Emerging Force (11-4) at Hereford 2m 5f (4) gd in Oct.
Minellacelebration (IRE) 6-1 (11-6) Prominent, led 11th, not fluent 3 out, headed next, led again last, held on gamely, won at Aintree 3m 1f hcp (3) gd in Oct beating What A Moment (11-4) by 1/2l, 8 ran.
Easy Street (IRE) 9-1 (11-9) Held up behind, steady headway before 4 out, went 2nd before 2 out, soon ridden and one pace, kept on flat, always held, 2nd of 8, 2 3/4l behind Fact Of The Matter (10-11) at Exeter 3m hcp (3) gd in Oct.
Sykes (IRE) 7-2fav (11-6) Mid-division, not fluent 7th, headway before 2 out, weakened approaching last, 8th of 10, dist behind Alzammaar (11-8) at Aintree 3m 1f hcp (3) gf in May.
Fact Of The Matter (IRE) 9-2 (10-11) Always prominent, led 4 out, ridden between last 2, kept on well, won at Exeter 3m hcp (3) gd in Oct beating Easy Street (11-9) by 2 3/4l, 8 ran.
Boa Island (IRE) 2-5fav (11-12) Raced keenly, jumped well but sometimes went left, led until after 9th, tracked leader, pushed along and closed to lead approaching 2 out, soon clear, pushed out run-in, easily, won at Wincanton 2m 4f hcp (4) gd in Nov beating Theatre Mill (11-11) by 5l, 3 ran.
