in rear, headway 8th, led 3 out, ridden and joined next, asserted towards finish
led, headed 8th, dropped to rear 10th, eased after 4 out, pulled up before 3 out
tracked leaders, ridden 4 out, weakened next, left remote 3rd last
tracked leader, led 8th, headed 3 out, ridden and every chance from next, no extra towards finish
tracked leaders, mistake 10th, ridden 4 out, weakened next, slow 2 out, well held in 3rd when fell last
close up, blundered and nearly unseated rider 2nd, lost place, reminders in rear halfway, pulled up soon after 8th
in rear, hit 8th, soon pulled up
Virnon beat a subsequent winner at Southwell last month and then came up against an improver at Sedgefield. Value At Risk usually takes on stronger opposition and it would be no surprise if defied top weight while Ontopoftheworld has been cleverly placed to win five times this year and Peter Bowen’s chasers are always worth considering here. Soft ground was a legitimate excuses for ONE FORTY SEVEN at Bangor last month. He was in good form in the autumn on better going and is still on a fair mark. Lisdoonvarna Lad also has a shout on these terms.
Value At Risk 10-1 (10-12) Held up towards rear, pushed along and weakened from 4 out, 5th of 7, 30l behind Calipto (11-1) at Wincanton 2m 4f hcp (2) gd in Jan.
Ontopoftheworld (IRE) 2-7fav (11-12) Made all, increased pace 4 out, clear approaching last, comfortable, won at Musselburgh 2m hcp (3) gd in Jan beating Chain Of Beacons (10-11) by 17l, 2 ran.
The Winkler (IRE) 16-1 (9-10) Soon raced in 7th, pushed along to close and effort straight, no extra and kept on same pace from before last, 4th of 11, 9 1/2l behind Icantsay (9-10) at Killarney 3m 2f hcp gd in May.
Terry The Fish (IRE) 20-1 (11-7) Jumped badly right in rear until pulled up before 10th, at Doncaster 3m hcp (3) gd in Dec.
Lisdoonvarna Lad (IRE) 20-1 (10-11) Mid-division, lost place 10th, 10th of 13, dist behind Glen Forsa (10-10) at Kempton 2m 4f hcp (3) gs in Dec.
One Forty Seven (IRE) 6-1 (11-9) Tracked leaders, ridden 4 out, weakened next, pulled up approaching 2 out, at Bangor 3m hcp (3) sft in Dec.
Virnon 9-4jfav (11-9) Mostly tracked front pair, challenged 11th, led narrowly 3 out, headed after next, soon ridden and one pace, well held before last, 2nd of 6, 10l behind Eureu Du Boulay (11-9) at Sedgefield 2m 3f hcp (4) sft in Dec.
