Best Prospect was beaten off a lower mark at Kelso last time and finds little off the bridle. Master Fong has proved disappointing so far this season, but Marleno could figure off a low weight. Diklers Oscar requires further and may need this but is one worth noting in the coming weeks, while Cunning Clarets also reappears off a decent mark after a break. But the vote in this opener goes to THE CHAZER, who has taken a while to get the hang of things over hurdles but went down with all guns blazing at Exeter last time and can get off the mark here.
Best Prospect (IRE) 4-1 (11-4) Held up towards rear, headway after 3 out, ridden to challenge run-in, no extra and lost 2nd place towards finish, 3rd of 12, 2 3/4l behind Doeslessthanme (11-6) at Kelso 2m hcp hdl 0-130 (3) sft in Nov.
Kudu Country (IRE) 4-1 (11-6) Led, not fluent 4th, not fluent and headed next, hampered on inside after 3 out, weakened next, 10th of 12, 45l behind Sure Josie Sure (11-7) at Perth 2m hcp hdl 0-135 (3) gd in Apr.
European Dream (IRE) 7-2 (11-11) Held up in rear, effort and no headway from 3 out, 5th of 10, 15l behind Nine Stories (11-8) at Wetherby 2m hcp hdl 0-130 (3) gs in Nov.
Culcabock (IRE) 40-1 (9-9) Chased leaders, weakened after 4th, soon behind, behind when slightly hampered 3 out, 13th of 17, 50l behind Menorah (11-12) at Cheltenham 2m hcp hdl Grade 3 (1) gs in Nov.
Degas Art (IRE) 9-2 (10-11) In touch in rear, outpaced between 3 out and 2 out, stayed on approaching last, went 2nd near finish, 2nd of 6, 11l behind Keki Buku (11-2) at Market Rasen 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-135 (3) sft in Nov.
Bureaucrat 12-1 (11-2) Mid-division, headway 6th, lost place next, soon behind, 10th of 13, 24l behind Sendali (10-0) at Catterick 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-130 (3) sft in Jan.
Blue Nymph 50-1 (10-7) Towards rear, hit 4th, effort under pressure approaching 2 out, soon weakened, 13th of 17, well behind Soldatino (11-0) at Cheltenham 2m 1f 4yo nov hdl G1 (1) gd in Mar.
Diklers Oscar (IRE) 10-3 (10-4) In rear, not fluent 4th, headway after 6th, behind when not fluent 9th, no impression after, 6th of 9, 17l behind Carole's Legacy (11-12) at Ayr 3m mrs hcp hdl (2) gd in Apr.
Grand Diamond (IRE) 10-1 (11-5) Held up behind, headway after 3 out, ridden and kept on after last, 3rd of 15, 3 1/2l behind Altan Khan (11-0) at Musselburgh 2m hcp hdl 0-125 (3) gd in Nov.
Charingworth (IRE) 28-1 (10-5) Held up behind, effort to chase leaders 3 out, ridden next, kept on flat, not reached leaders, 4th of 16, 12l behind Nearby (11-4) at Aintree 2m hcp hdl 0-140 (2) gs in Oct.
Burnt Oak (UAE) 14-1 (11-3) Held up towards rear, ridden approaching 2 out, soon weakened, 7th of 10, 36l behind Nine Stories (11-8) at Wetherby 2m hcp hdl 0-130 (3) gs in Nov.
Super Directa (GER) 12-1 (11-0) Led, ridden and headed approaching 2 out, soon beaten, 3rd of 14, 8l behind Stage Acclaim (10-4) at Lingfield 2m nh nov hdl (4) gd in Mar '09.
Agglestone Rock 5-1 (11-7) Chased leaders, 3rd halfway, 6th 3 out, ridden in 8th before 2 out, no extra and kept on one pace, 7th of 10, 27l behind Impersonator (10-3) at Galway 2m 2f hcp hdl 88-116 gf in Aug.
Master Fong (IRE) 16-1 (11-2) Held up towards rear, weakened from 3 out, 6th of 10, 23l behind Rio Gael (11-4) at Haydock 2m hcp hdl 0-135 (3) gd in Nov.
Tooman Lane (IRE) 7-2fav (10-10) Held up towards rear, headway in 7th 3 out, ridden in 5th 2 out, no extra last, kept on same pace run-in, 5th of 13, 7l behind Mister Farmer (10-7) at Navan 2m 4f hcp chs 0-116 hvy in Mar.
Cranky Corner 6-1 (10-11) Held up towards rear, headway approaching 8th, ridden and weakened from 2 out, 6th of 10, 25l behind King O'The Gypsies (11-4) at Sedgefield 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-130 (3) sft in Nov.
The Chazer (IRE) 12-1 (10-12) In touch, headway to chase leaders after 4 out, narrow lead 3 out, soon joined, hung left before last, headed close home, 2nd of 16, nk behind Accordintolawrence (10-12) at Exeter 2m 1f nh nov hdl (4) hvy in Nov.
Cunning Clarets (IRE) 11-2 (10-8) Held up, headway halfway, soon chasing leaders, lost place after 3out, behind when mistake next, pulled up before last, in a race won by Ramsden Boy (10-13) at Ayr 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-125 (3) gd in Apr, 12 ran.
Irish Symphony (IRE) 6-1 (11-9) With leader, led approaching 5th, headed approaching next, ridden after 3 out, soon weakened and pulled up before 2 out, in a race won by Exulto (11-4) at Southwell 2m hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gd in Apr, 7 ran.
Pokfulham (IRE) 10-1 (11-9) Held up in touch, ridden and weakened 2 out, 9th of 15, 26l behind Altan Khan (11-0) at Musselburgh 2m hcp hdl 0-125 (3) gd in Nov.
Marleno (GER) 5-2fav (10-7) Tracked winner to before 3 out, regained 2nd after next, soon outpaced, lost place between last 2, well held 3rd when not fluent last, no extra, 3rd of 7, 12l behind Pret A Thou (10-5) at Uttoxeter 2m nh nov hdl (4) hvy in Nov.
Tahiti Pearl (IRE) 16-1 (10-12) Led and not fluent early, ridden and headed 2 out, kept on, no chance with winner, 2nd of 10, 4 1/2l behind Al Qeddaaf (11-5) at Haydock 2m nh nov hdl (4) gd in Nov.
Black Phantom (IRE) 22-1 (11-7) Always prominent, led 4 out, soon ridden, drew clear from 2 out, comfortably, won at Chepstow 2m hcp hdl 0-90 (5) sft in Nov beating Monsieur (11-1) by 7l, 17 ran.
