chased leaders, keeping on same pace in 3rd when crossed and switched right run-in
held up in last pair, headway before 2 out, went modest 4th between last 2
held up off the pace in last trio, headway into 3rd 4 out, went 2nd next, challenged and hit 2 out, led inside final 150 yards, ridden out
held up, headway chasing leaders 8th, blundered 10th, 2nd before 4 out, led next, ridden and hung left run-in, headed inside final 150 yards, stayed on
chased leader, hit 12th, lost 2nd before 4 out, chased leaders, weakened next
led, hit 9th, joined 4 out, headed next, weakened before 2 out
held up, closer 5th (water), pushed along after 12th, brief effort before next, weakened 3 out
took keen hold, held up in rear, steady headway on inside 4 out, no impression when hit 2 out, weakened soon after
Icing On The Cake won over 2m here last season and was a close third over course and distance in March. He is having his first run since but isn’t badly treated and it would be no surprise to see him in the firing-line. Oldgrangewood has won three of his seven chase starts and been placed twice in Grade 2 company. He looks a threat to all while O O Seven did well last season, winning at Cheltenham and Huntingdon and finishing fourth in the Topham at Aintree when last seen. Space Oddity has taken well to fences and Willie Boy and Jameson are recent winners open to further improvement but RIDGEWAY FLYER hasn’t stopped improving this year and can take this step up in class in his stride. Vibrato Valtat is a former Grade 2 winner but appears to have lost the plot.
O O Seven (IRE) 12-1 (11-7) Tracked leaders, left disputing 2nd 12th (canal turn), left in lead 14th, driven and headed before last, ridden and kept on under pressure flat, 4th of 29, 7 1/4l behind Ultragold (10-5) at Aintree 2m 5f hcp (1) gd in Apr.
Vibrato Valtat (FR) 16-1 (10-12) Held up in touch, outpaced 5 out, no chance with leaders before next, 5th of 8, dist behind Politologue (11-2) at Exeter 2m 1f hcp (1) sft in Nov.
Oldgrangewood 9-1 (10-5) Mid-division, tracked leaders 5 out, outpaced after next, went 3rd 2 out, soon ridden, kept on, no impression with front pair, 3rd of 12, 9 3/4l behind Smad Place (11-3) at Aintree 2m 4f hcp (1) gs in Oct.
Jameson 5-2fav (11-4) Mid-division, tracked leaders from 4th, went 2nd before 3 out, driven next, 1 length down last, soon ridden, stayed on under pressure to lead final strides, won at Sandown 2m 4f hcp (3) gs in Nov beating Western Miller (11-8) by nk, 11 ran.
Space Oddity (FR) 9-2 (11-8) Tracked leaders, pecked 2nd, driven and effort after 2 out, went 2nd last, soon every chance, ridden no extra final 100 yards, 2nd of 8, 3 3/4l behind Benatar (12-0) at Ascot 2m 3f hcp (3) gd in Nov.
Willie Boy (IRE) 10-1 (11-11) Tracked leader, keen, joined leader 8th, led approaching 3 out, challenged after next, stayed on strongly, won at Newbury 2m 4f hcp (3) gs in Nov beating Henri Parry Morgan (11-12) by 2l, 10 ran.
Ridgeway Flyer 1-8fav (11-8) Took keen hold, led, jumped left, veered left and tried to run out 2nd, jumped slowly 4th, clear from 10th, good jump last, unchallenged, won at Taunton 2m 7f (3) gd in Nov beating Never Learn (11-2) by 18l, 2 ran.
Icing On The Cake (IRE) 8-1 (10-5) Raced keenly, held up behind, steady headway 6 out, tracked leaders 4 out, disputed 2nd 2 out, soon ridden and one pace, kept on under pressure flat, 3rd and held towards finish, 3rd of 13, 2 3/4l behind Warriors Tale (11-2) at Newbury 2m 4f hcp (2) gs in Mar.
