led, set steady pace, headed 3rd, remained in touch, challenged 5 out, led again next, ridden and headed 2 out, no extra
in touch, challenged and every chance 3 out, outpaced next, weakened last
tracked leaders, headway 5 out, challenged when hit 3 out, kept on and every chance, ridden and one pace flat
with leader, led 3rd, mistake 5th, hit and headed 4 out, soon outpaced, 3rd and no impression when not fluent last
held up, driven and headway approaching 4 out, squeezed through on inside to challenge next, led 2 out, ridden and stayed on flat
held up, hit 7th, lost touch 10th, soon tailed off
Nonrunner
MUMBLES HEAD is marginally preferred to Weapon's Amnesty and Abbeybraney. Peter Bowen's charge was not the best of these over hurdles but he has always struck as a chasing type and with the trainer well known for tuning his horses up for early season prizes, we are confident that he can progress upon what was an impressive victory at the course earlier this month. Weapon's Amnesty won the Albert Bartlett at the Cheltenham Festival. He has not impressed in two chasing starts as he has tended to jump markedly to his left. Abbeybraney has the services of Tony McCoy. He has not been seen since finishing second to Barbers Shop at Sandown in Dcemeber 2008 though had been tried in good company in Ireland prior to that engagement. Lucky Wish has no issues in relation to match fitness and is likely to be a bigger price than his Irish form allows. Mighty Massini was some way below this class over hurdles but he enters calculations following victory over Nicanor at Fairyhouse. Plenty of raiders on what is probably the best novice to be staged in the North this season and we reckon that Mumbles Head can take the prize back to deepest Wales.
Lucky Wish 9-4fav (11-12) Always prominent, on terms 4 out, collided with rival 2 out, soon narrowly headed, led run-in, kept on best, won at Fairyhouse 3m beg chs gd in Oct beating Gonebeyondrecall (11-12) by 1l, 16 ran.
Mighty Massini (IRE) 16-1 (11-12) Chased leaders, 5th halfway, 6th 3 out, ridden into 3rd 2 out, challenged last, led run-in and kept on well, won at Down Royal 2m 4f beg chs sft beating Nicanor (11-12) by 3/4l, 18 ran.
Mumbles Head (IRE) 8-1 (11-2) Was the winner, with leader, led 10th, clear approaching 2 out, won at Newcastle 2m 4f beg chs (4) gs beating Diamond Frontier (11-2) by 14l, 8 ran.
Abbeybraney (IRE) 10-1 (10-9) Held up last, in touch, blundered and lost place 15th, rallied approaching 2 out, driven and went 2nd approaching last, no impression on winner, 2nd of 5, 4l behind Barbers Shop (11-5) at Sandown 3m lst chs 4yo+ (1) sft in Dec.
Weapon's Amnesty (IRE) 1-2fav (11-12) Mid-division, tended to jump left, in touch when fell 8th, in a race won by Inistioge (11-7) at Limerick 2m 3f beg chs hvy, 16 ran.
Blazing Diva (IRE) 25-1 (10-10) Close up, weakened after 3 out, 4th of 15, 38l behind Smuglin (10-10) at Newcastle 2m 4f mdn hdl (5) gs.
Reel Charmer 11-2 (10-5) Chased leaders, effort before 3 out, soon weakened, 6th of 14, well behind Silver By Nature (11-0) at Carlisle 3m 2f hcp chs 0-135 (3) sft.
