ROMAN ROCK ran well for third, clear of a subsequent winner, on his UK debut at Haydock and wouldn’t need to improve much on that to open his account here. Master Templar was showing improvement over shorter trips in the autumn but Lanty Slea only beat two rivals in a Carlisle bumper last March and hasn’t been seen since. Enemenemynemo and Corach Rambler, converts from the point-to-point circuit, may also need this.
Beforeypushdachair (IRE) 400-1 (11-0) Led, headed 12f out, weakened over 5f out, tailed off, 10th of 11, dist behind Sun Rising Hill (11-0) at Market Rasen 2m 1f (5) gd in Sep.
Corach Rambler (IRE) (12-2) Tr ldr, 2nd 1/2way, rdn bef str, jnd ldr 2out, ld bef last, ko strongly run in, won at Monksgrange 3m mdn gd in Sep beating Local Rogue (12-2) by shd, 9 ran.
Enemenemynemo (IRE) 4-1 (11-11) Chsd ldrs, 3rd 6out & 4th bef 4out, cl 2nd 2out, ld on landing last but b mstk & hdd, no ex final 50 yards, 2nd of 13, 2 1/2l behind Castle Robin (11-11) at Dromahane 3m mdn sft in Nov.
Intheboriscamp (IRE) 40-1 (11-5) Held up in chasing group, ridden 3 out, never on terms, 9th of 12, dist behind Keep Rolling (11-5) at Hereford 2m 4f mdn (4) hvy in Dec.
Lanty Slea (IRE) 5-4 (11-2) Tracked leader, closed over 2f out, challenged over 1f out, led narrowly inside final furlong, held on, won at Carlisle 2m 1f (5) sft in Mar beating Honda Fifty (11-2) by ns, 3 ran.
Master Templar (IRE) 18-1 (10-12) Slightly better than mid-division, hit 1st, briefly pushed after 5th, outpaced and ridden after 2 out, kept on well, 3rd of 12, 10 3/4l behind Witness Protection (10-12) at Stratford 2m 3f (4) gs in Nov.
Roman Rock (IRE) 8-1 (11-2) Held up in last pair, hit 6th and 4 out, pushed along soon after, outpaced before next, plugged on, 3rd of 6, 10l behind Buzz De Turcoing (11-2) at Haydock 2m 7f mdn (4) hvy in Dec.
