raced keenly, made all, mistake 4 out, driven and stayed on well run in and always holding on
prominent until lost place and dropped to last pair 6th, never going after, tailed off and pulled up before 11th
held up early tracking leading trio, 3rd after 10th, chased winner before 3 out, closed last, stayed on run in but always held
prominent early, soon lost place and in rear, tailed off 11th, no chance after
chased winner after 3rd, ridden before 4 out, dropped to 3rd before next, plugged on same pace, weakened and lost modest 3rd at the last
held up tracking leaders, 3rd at 6th until after 10th, outpaced 4 out, no chance after, went modest 3rd again at the last
Venetian Lad is a standing dish around here but is probably aiming a little high on his reappearance. Porters War has yet to finish out of the frame in four runs here and had Forever My Friend behind when third at Worcester last time, though looks a shade high in the weights now while Violets Boy keeps finding one too good but is still climbing the ratings. The Nephew won at Market Rasen in July but has struggled off higher mark since. UP FOR AN OSCAR has now won four times for claimer Ed Cookson, the last twice over fences. He jumped a lot better when winning a decent novice event at Worcester last time and may be capable of following up.
The Nephew (IRE) 13-8fav (10-12) Led, driven and headed approaching 2 out, kept on same pace, no chance with winner in clear 2nd before last, 2nd of 6, 9l behind Factor Fifty (10-7) at Market Rasen 2m 5f nh nov hdl (4) gd in Aug.
Up For An Oscar (IRE) 3-1 (11-1) Prominent, led 5th, not fluent and headed and reminder 7th, not fluent 8th, led 9th until before 10th, hit 11th, led 13th, driven flat, held on, won at Worcester 2m 7f nov chs (4) gd in Sep beating Kilbree Kid (11-6) by 3/4l, 6 ran.
Violets Boy (IRE) 11-4 (11-4) Tracked leaders, not fluent 1st, mistake 2 out, went 2nd last, switched left flat, stayed on, just held, 2nd of 5, 1/2l behind Kalamill (10-7) at Stratford 2m 7f hcp chs 0-125 (3) gd in Sep.
Porters War (IRE) 12-1 (11-3) Led to 13th, in touch, every chance 2 out, ridden and kept on flat, no extra in 3rd towards finish, 3rd of 7, 4l behind Barton Stacey (11-9) at Worcester 2m 7f hcp chs 0-140 (3) gd in Aug.
Forever My Friend (IRE) 13-2 (11-9) Mid-division, hampered 3rd, tracked leaders 8th, outpaced before 4 out, ridden after next, kept on same pace under pressure, no impression, 4th of 10, 6l behind Papradon (11-10) at Uttoxeter 2m 4f hcp chs 0-120 (4) gd in Sep.
Venetian Lad 11-2 (11-12) Tracked leaders, lost place after 8th, hampered on bend after next, went well beaten 4th from 3 out, 4th of 7, 34l behind Long Wave (11-3) at Fontwell 2m 6f hcp chs 0-115 (4) gd in Jun.
