ADRIMEL changed hands for a whopping £280,000 after winning a Ballyarthur point last March. He sluiced up on his bumper debut at Uttoxeter and is an exciting prospect for Tom Lacey. One True King was more exposed between the flags but won easily at Ludlow last month and may have more to offer. Time To Tinker was second over track and trip in December with Call Simon a staying-on sixth. That form has been franked and the Nicholls’ entry makes more appeal than Mocacreme Has and Sheldon, placed here and at Newbury respectively. Sam Barton may prove the pick of the newcomers, though Majestic Merlin does have a nice pedigree for jumping.
Adrimel (FR) 6-4 (11-0) Made all, clear over 2f out, easily, won at Uttoxeter 2m (5) hvy in Dec beating Big Data (11-0) by 26l, 7 ran.
One True King (IRE) 8-1 (11-4) Made virtually all, clear final 2f, easily, won at Ludlow 1m 6f (4) sft in Jan beating Castle Robin (11-4) by 7 1/2l, 9 ran.
After The Fox 7-2jfav (11-12) Outpcd 6f out; gd hdwy 31/2f out; chsd wnr final 2f; no ex final 110yds, 2nd of 10, 4 1/2l behind Wilcox And Co (11-12) at Ffos Las P-t-p Course 2m sft in Dec.
Call Simon (IRE) 7-2 (10-12) Chased leaders to over 4f out, soon outpaced, never able to get back on terms, 6th of 16, 13l behind Picanha (10-12) at Exeter 2m 1f (5) sft in Dec.
Majestic Merlin Midnight Legend gelding out of Posh Emily.
Mocacreme Has (FR) 5-2fav (11-4) Towards rear, steady headway 6f out, pushed along chasing leaders into home straight, 3rd and one pace final 2f, 3rd of 11, 16 1/2l behind Red Rookie (11-4) at Exeter 2m 1f (5) hvy in Jan.
Sam Barton Black Sam Bellamy gelding out of Bartons Bride.
Time To Tinker (IRE) 3-1jfav (10-12) Mid-division, headway 6f out, ridden to lead narrowly 2f out, hung left, headed narrowly over 1f out, kept on, no extra towards finish, 2nd of 16, 1 1/2l behind Picanha (10-12) at Exeter 2m 1f (5) sft in Dec.
Big Hearted Arthur 33-1 (10-7) Always behind, pulled up, at Warwick 2m (5) sft in Jan.
Sheldon (IRE) 50-1 (10-7) Chased leaders on inside, ridden entering final 3f, 3rd and one pace final furlong, 3rd of 13, 6 1/4l behind Your Darling (11-5) at Newbury 2m (5) hvy in Jan.
Thebudinpundit 125-1 (10-12) Behind, jumped path into rival after 3f, beaten 5f out, tailed off, 10th of 13, dist behind Grand Roi (10-12) at Wincanton 1m 7f (5) gs in Dec.
Boro Babe (FR) 9-4fav (10-5) Chased leaders until pushed along and dropped out quickly after 4f, continued tailed off until plugged on past beaten rivals final 2f, never a threat, 11th of 14, 30 3/4l behind Lovely Lou Lou (10-5) at Huntingdon 1m 6f (5) gd in Oct.
