mistake 1st, tracked rival pair, pecked 3rd, not fluent next, went 2nd at 13th, driven to lead before 2 out, clear last, ridden out closing stages
led, headed narrowly 8th, hit next, not fluent 12th, lost place and reminder after next, ridden after 5 out, mistake 3 out, soon beaten
pressed leader, led narrowly 8th, not fluent 14th, driven and headed before 2 out, no chance with winner before last
Bramble Brook has won three times over fences but only beaten seven horses in the process and looks on a high enough mark. Like The Sound, a dual winner over timber, had a couple of much better fancied rivals behind when runner-up in a four-runner race at Sedgefield on his chasing bow but didn't jump well on his next start at Ascot. He should find this more to his liking though SCOOP THE POT will take some beating. Philip Hobbs' charge, three times a winner over hurdles, had been narrowly beaten on a couple of occasions over fences before getting the victory he deserved at Exeter and he's only 2lb higher.
Scoop The Pot (IRE) 3-1fav (11-9) Held up in touch, headway when left 2nd 4 out, virtually upsides 2 out, ridden after last, stayed on to lead narrowly final strides, won at Exeter 3m hcp (3) gd in Nov beating Belmount (11-12) by hd, 7 ran.
Bramble Brook 20-1 (11-9) Always prominent, led 16th to 3 out, soon ridden and beaten, 3rd of 10, 16 1/4l behind Crosspark (11-7) at Uttoxeter 3m 2f hcp (3) gs in Nov.
Like The Sound (FR) 16-1 (11-1) Mid-division, headway chasing leaders 11th, weakened 4 out, 6th of 11, 27 1/4l behind King Of Realms (11-8) at Ascot 3m hcp (3) gs in Nov.
