held up, in rear, headway to chase leaders after 3 out, effort next, never able to challenge
held up, keen, struggling 4 out, never dangerous
tracked leaders, jumped left 1st, mistake 5th, ridden and weakened after 3 out
led until after 1st, remained prominent, hit 3 out, driven to challenge next, kept on same pace
in touch, slow 5th, weakened after 3 out
prominent, jumped right 1st, soon led, headed before 2 out, no extra flat
mid-division but in touch, headway before 3 out, led approaching next, driven clear last, easily
held up, towards rear, headway to chase leaders 3 out, kept on same pace approaching last
Action Replay, a son of Milan, runs in the J P McManus colours and is a half-brother to a bumper winner. This won't take much winning so he has to go on the short-list. Big Thunder won six times on the Flat up to 2m but hasn't raced since January. Another Flat winner, Strait Of Magellan, was odds-on for his jumping debut at Musselburgh in January but flopped and hasn't been seen since. Like A Diamond has place prospects again but HOKE COLBURN has more scope. The Southwell bumper winner could be the one to beat, especially with rain forecast.
Action Replay (IRE) Milan gelding out of Mary Connors.
Big Thunder 14-1 (11-4) Chased leaders before 3 out, weakened before last, 7th of 18, 33 1/4l behind Cyrius Moriviere (11-10) at Doncaster 2m 1f (4) gs in Jan.
Hoke Colburn (IRE) 11-8fav (11-0) Made all, ridden towards finish, kept on well, won at Southwell 2m (6) sft in May beating Mariah's Legend (10-7) by 1/2l, 8 ran.
Like A Diamond (IRE) 5-1 (11-0) Led, jumped right at times, mistake 2 out, headed before last, 3rd and stayed on same pace flat, 3rd of 9, 8 1/2l behind Top of The Glas (11-0) at Hexham 2m mdn (5) gs in Sep.
New Member (IRE) 7-2cfav (11-4) Held up, in mid-division, headway 3f out, one pace 2f out, no impression, 8th of 12, 13 1/4l behind Bengali Song (11-4) at Southwell 2m mdn (6) gd in Oct.
Rossington 200-1 (10-12) Held up in rear, poor 5th when blundered 3 out, went distant 4th 2 out, tailed off, 4th of 6, dist behind Magic Music Man (10-12) at Sedgefield 2m 1f mdn (4) gd in Aug.
Southport 7-1 (11-10) Ld, hdd5th, 5th 5out, wknd 4out, ko onepcd, lft 3rd last, 3rd of 6, dist behind Monbeg Oscar (11-10) at Oldcastle 3m mdn gs in Apr.
Strait Of Magellan (IRE) 5-6fav (10-9) Chased clear leaders, close up 4 out, ridden after next, soon outpaced, modest 3rd 2 out, never on terms, weakened after last, 5th of 10, 33 1/4l behind Lac Leman (11-7) at Musselburgh 2m mdn (5) gs in Jan.
