MASTER OVERSEER will have 10lbs more to carry in future and can prove too strong for Its A Classic and Wheres Johnny. The selection has had ten days to recover from his exertions at Towcester where he earned himself a hefty rise for his bloodless success. That was a vast improvement on everything that had gone before so it remains to be seen whether it was just a flash in the pan but he'll be hard to beat if running up to that level. Its A Classic led home Quartz Du Montceau and Wheres Johnny when scoring over course and distance on his penultimate start. He was raised by 4lbs for that success but ran as well as can have been expected at Towcester next time and there's little to choose between the three of them. Finmere has plenty to prove on his first run over fences but neither Zimbabwe nor Strolling Vagabond can be ruled out with any confidence as both are more than capable of landing a race of this nature. However, it's hard to get away from Master Overseer.
Master Overseer (IRE) 4-1fav (11-11) Held up, went prominent 8th, led 10th, headed 13th, led again after 3 out, drew clear approaching 2 out, won at Towcester 3m hcp 0-100 (4) sft in Nov beating Stockton Flyer (10-7) by 16l, 9 ran.
Finmere (IRE) 20-1 (10-13) Mid-division, dropped rear 6th, behind when pulled up before last, in a race won by The Great Alfie (11-2) at Exeter 2m 7f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) sft in Nov, 14 ran.
Wheres Johnny 5-1 (11-10) Led to 2nd, regained lead 4th, ridden and headed 3 out, chased winner after, mistake and pecked 2 out, lost 2nd last, stayed on flat, always held, 3rd of 6, 1 3/4l behind Its A Classic (11-5) at Plumpton 3m 2f nov hcp chs 0-100 (4) hvy in Nov.
Its A Classic 14-1 (11-7) Tracked leaders, weakened approaching 2 out, 3rd of 4, 18l behind Great Endeavour (10-12) at Towcester 2m 6f nov chs (3) hvy in Nov.
Wasntme (IRE) 7-2 (11-10) Held up in rear, ridden after 7th, headway 9th, jumped slowly 11th, weakened approaching 4 out, left poor 3rd last, 3rd of 9, 25l behind Wide Receiver (11-0) at Towcester 2m 6f hcp 0-100 (4) gs in Nov.
Quartz Du Montceau (FR) 11-4 (10-12) Led 2nd to 4th, stayed handy in 3rd, outpaced 3 out, rallied next, went 2nd last, stayed on flat, always held, 2nd of 6, 1 1/2l behind Its A Classic (11-5) at Plumpton 3m 2f nov hcp chs 0-100 (4) hvy in Nov.
Zimbabwe (FR) 11-4fav (10-7) Made most to 6th, tracked leader, led again before 10th, headed 13th, lost place after 4 out, rallied between last 2, kept on no impression, 3rd of 7, 6l behind Ya I Know (11-9) at Market Rasen 3m 5f hcp chs 0-95 (5) hvy in Nov.
Strolling Vagabond (IRE) 8-1 (10-1) Raced wide, towards rear, pushed along and struggling 13th, tailed off when pulled up next, in a race won by Ray Mond (9-11) at Warwick 3m 2f hcp chs 0-95 (5) gd in Nov, 10 ran.
Rathnaskillogue (IRE) 8-1 (10-5) Chased leaders , 4th halfway, ridden in 6th and no extra after 3 out, soon weakened, 8th of 16, 25l behind Hatton's Wood (10-11) at Tramore 2m 6f hcp chs 0-95 gd in Oct.
