made all, pressed last, kept on, driven out
tracked leaders, outpaced before 4 out, kept on to take 3rd from last, no impression
held up in rear, headway after 5 out, mistake last, one pace
tracked leader, pushed along before 4 out, ridden before next, soon weakened
tracked leaders in 3rd, pushed along before 4 out, soon weakened
COAX had the proverbial ton in hand when beating Forestside by seven lengths at Catterick before Christmas and Jim Tango was a well-beaten fifth. The handicapper has raised him 8lb but that was only to be expected and Patrick Holmes' six-year-old has the scope to win again off his new mark. Civil Unrest is back over fences for the first time since October and may be a few pounds too high while Ballycool carries a penalty for last week's easy win at Kelso and was earlier behind Jim Tango at the same track.
Civil Unrest (IRE) 7-2fav (11-1) Slight lead until 3rd, chased winner until ridden after 3 out, chased leading pair under pressure until before 2 out, soon weakened, 4th of 9, 30l behind Smadynium (11-6) at Catterick 2m 3f con hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gd in Dec.
Coax 22-1 (11-1) Held up in touch on outside, headway into 2nd after 4 out, led going well after next, clear 2 out, stayed on well, comfortably, won at Catterick 2m hcp chs 0-105 (4) gd in Dec beating Forestside (10-8) by 8l, 7 ran.
Ballycool (IRE) 10-3 (9-9) Held up in last, headway approaching 9th, led well before last, soon ridden clear and edged left, stayed on well, won at Kelso 2m 1f hcp chs 0-120 (4) sft in Dec beating Rocking Blues (11-2) by 19l, 7 ran.
Jim Tango (FR) 5-1 (10-10) Tracked leaders, outpaced before 3 out, weakened next, 5th of 7, 26l behind Coax (11-1) at Catterick 2m hcp chs 0-105 (4) gd in Dec.
Overlaw 5-1 (10-10) Led, ridden and headed before last, no extra, 4th of 7, 8l behind Bob's Dream (11-8) at Sedgefield 2m hcp 0-100 (5) sft in Nov.
Forestside (IRE) 2-1fav (10-6) Tracked leader, lost place halfway, never dangerous, 3rd of 4, 12l behind Cara Court (10-8) at Catterick 2m hcp chs 0-100 (5) sft.