close up in rear, headway to track leaders 10th, sprawled on landing 3 out and lost ground and chance, kept on same pace
disputed lead until led 8th, ridden 2 out, driven and all out
disputed lead until mistake 8th, lost place, ridden 3 out, weakening when mistake 2 out, pulled next
close up, tracked winner 8th, ridden 2 out, stayed on flat
tracked leaders, dropped to rear8th, ridden 4 out, weakened 2 out
The progressive YOUNG BUSTER has now won both starts over fences having scored over a slightly longer trip here last time when overcoming a blunder at the first fence. He can defy a further rise in the weights for Fergal O’Brien’s in-form yard. Gentleman De Mai also won over these fences last month though is upped in class today along with Domandlouis but Imperial Merlin may prove a bigger threat in this grade if taking to the larger obstacles. Overcourt has plenty to find with the selection.
Imperial Merlin (IRE) 10-3jfav (10-13) Rear mid-division, not fluent 9th, pushed along omitted 2 out, no progress, 5th of 11, 22 1/2l behind Gentleman At Arms (10-10) at Aintree 3m 1f hcp (2) sft in Nov.
Young Buster (IRE) 15-8fav (11-13) Led, bad mistake 1st where jockey briefly lost irons, briefly headed before 2nd not fluent 3 out, soon ridden, briefly pressed for lead 2 out, went clear approaching last, pushed out run-in, easily, won at Kelso 2m 7f hcp (4) sft in Nov beating Busty Boy (11-0) by 6 1/2l, 5 ran.
Overcourt 13-2 (12-0) Held up in midfield, ridden before 3 out, soon outpaced in last, kept on one pace approaching last, last of 5, 21l behind Young Buster (11-13) at Kelso 2m 7f hcp (4) sft in Nov.
Gentleman De Mai (FR) 11-4 (11-11) Chased leader, ridden to lead 2 out, challenged last, headed flat, rallied to lead close home, gamely, won at Kelso 2m 7f hcp (4) gs in Nov beating No Regrets (11-9) by nk, 5 ran.
Domandlouis (IRE) 9-4 (11-7) Prominent, ridden and outpaced home turn, kept on well from last in 2nd, 2nd of 6, 2 3/4l behind Busty Boy (11-4) at Kelso 2m 7f hcp (4) sft in Oct.
