mid-division, headway approaching 7th, led 3 out, driven out
held up, headway approaching 7th, ridden 3 out, weakened before next
behind, headway 4th, weakened after 6th, tailed off when blundered last
held up and behind, effort after 7th, soon weakened
held up, hit 3rd, headway 5th, every chance approaching 3 out, weakened quickly
with leader, jumped big first, led 2nd to 3rd, chased leader to 7th, weakened quickly
chased leaders, ridden and every chance approaching 2 out, one pace flat
mid-division, headway 5th, ridden approaching 3 out, soon weakened
in touch, every chance 3 out, soon ridden, no extra flat
held up, headway approaching 7th, ridden next, weakened approaching 2 out
in touch to 5th, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out
led to 2nd, led again 3rd, ridden and headed 3 out, weakened before next
Jonjo O'Neill will surely find a race for Butler's Cabin at some point but the six-year-old is proving expensive to follow and a chance is taken with Baron Romeo, who is preferred to Brumous. The last mentioned made a winning debut at Folkestone last month and is entitled to improve for the run but his penalty makes life tougher. Major Catch has bits and pieces of form, including under testing conditions, that give him a chance but he is not the most consistent of performers, while Suprendre Espere has shown gradual improvement in bumpers and now makes his hurdling debut. Palm Island had little chance behind the useful Hoh Viss at Uttoxeter on his British debut for Noel Chance last time and is another to consider but the vote goes to Baron Romeo. A decent performer in bumpers, the Richard Phillips-trained gelding got no further than the first flight on his hurdling debut last week but may be worth another chance in this company on ground that suits.
Brumous (IRE) 16-1 (11-0) Held up mid-division, headway 6th, led 2 out, comfortably, won at Folkestone 2m 6f mdn hdl (E) sft in Dec beating Knighton Lad (11-0) by 7l, 13 ran.
Baron Romeo (IRE) 9-2 (11-5) fell in race won by Glasker Mill (11-11) at Haydock 2m 4f nov hdl (4) hvy, 14 ran.
Bob's Temptation 250-1 (11-0) Always behind, 11th of 15, well behind Circassian (11-0) at Haydock 2m nov hdl (D) sft in Dec.
Butler's Cabin (FR) 3-1jt-fav (11-5) Tracked leaders, led 3 out, headed 2 out, lost 2nd before last, 3rd of 13, 18l behind Dunsfold Duke (11-5) at Plumpton 2m 5f nh nov hdl (3) sft.
Cayman Calypso (IRE) 7-2 (9-3) Led, ridden over 2f out, headed 1f out, weakened towards finish, 4th of 9, 4l behind Little Richard (9-1) at W'hampton 1m 6f banded stk (7) pol (Flat).
Chisel 200-1 (10-12) Always behind, 19th of 22, well behind Straw Bear (11-5) at Leicester 2m nov hdl (3) sft.
Cleverality (IRE) 25-1 (10-13) Took keen hold, prominent to over 5f out, 6th of 7, well behind The Hollow Bottom (10-8) at Ludlow 2m nhf (H) gd in Nov.
Major Catch (IRE) 50-1 (10-7) Tracked leaders, keen, ridden to chase leaders 3 out, weakened after 2 out, 4th of 15, 14l behind Alfasonic (10-12) at Towcester 3m nov hdl (4) sft.
Nemetan (FR) 33-1 (11-5) Mid-division, mistake 3rd, ridden approaching 3 out, soon weakened, 9th of 22, well behind Straw Bear (11-5) at Leicester 2m nov hdl (3) sft.
Palm Island (FR) 12-1 (10-12) Tracked leaders, went 2nd approaching 3 out, no chance with winner, 2nd of 8, 22l behind Hoh Viss (11-5) at Uttoxeter 2m 4f nov hdl (E) hvy in Dec.
Pertemps Timmy 12-1 (10-10) Held up, headway after 6f, pushed along from halfway, ridden over 4f out, weakened over 2f out, 3rd of 10, 17l behind Pardon What (11-4) at Worcester 2m nhf (H) sft in Jun '02.
Suprendre Espere 28-1 (11-4) Made all, ridden clear over 1f out, stayed on, won at Uttoxeter 2m mdn nhf (H) hvy in Dec beating Herons Cove (11-4) by 11l, 13 ran.
Bosworth Gypsy (IRE) 66-1 (10-10) Mid-division, behind from halfway, 5th of 16, well behind Ben's Turn (10-10) at Warwick 2m 5f mrs nov hdl (D) sft in Dec.
