led, joined 7th, headed 2 out, slightly outpaced between last 2, rallied last, ridden to lead again narrowly flat, kept on towards finish
tracked leader, pushed along in 3rd after 3 out, headway to lead next, driven between last 2, hard pressed last, ridden and headed narrowly flat, held towards finish
tracked rival pair, close up on outside 5th, disputed lead 7th, lost place 2 out, soon outpaced, no chance with front pair before last
OZZIE THE OSCAR was last of three at Cheltenham after getting of the mark at Warwick but should have few problems picking up the winning thread again here with a clear round as he is rated 6lb higher than the more-exposed Work In Progress, who has blundered and unseated his rider in his last two. Sage Monkey would probably need both of his rivals to hit the deck to land this.
Work In Progress (IRE) 5-1 (11-11) In lead when blundered and unseated rider 1st, at Southwell 2m 4f (3) gd in Nov.
Ozzie The Oscar (IRE) 5-1 (11-2) Keen, soon pressed winner, led before 3rd, mistake and headed 3 out, outpaced when went left next, no chance with easy winner after, ridden after last, lost modest 2nd near finish, last of 3, 19 1/4l behind North Hill Harvey (11-5) at Cheltenham 2m (1) sft in Nov.
Sage Monkey (IRE) 4-1 (10-10) Soon mid-division, in touch 5th, challenged after 4 out, led 2 out, 2 lengths clear last, ridden flat, headed and no extra towards finish, 2nd of 9, 1 3/4l behind Burrenbridge Hotel (11-12) at Hereford 2m hcp (4) gd in Nov.
