raced wide, towards rear, behind before 8th, tailed off
mistake 1st, raced keenly in rear, tailed off when fell 4 out
mid-division, headway chasing leaders 9th, weakened after 3 out, tailed off
chased leaders on inside, lost place slightly 9th, outpaced before 3 out, rallied in 4th before next, ridden and weakened before last
chased leaders and pushed along at times, hit 7th, led 3 out, clear before next, driven out
led after 1st until 3 out, chased winner until well before 2 out, weakened quickly, tailed off and pulled up after 2 out
led until after 1st, chased leader until before 3 out, went 2nd again before next, kept on same pace, no chance with winner
raced widest, headway chasing leaders 3rd, mistake 5th, pushed along and outpaced after 3 out, plugged on in 3rd
raced wide, held up in rear, headway on outside approaching 4 out, weakened next
Little Boy Boru won this last year when 6lb higher and makes more appeal than stablemate Invicta Lake. Velvet Cognac is a strong stayer who has been alternating between hurdles and fences. The Tin Miner is best around here but a recent victory came over a shorter trip. Age Of Wisdom will have stamina to prove but there are no concerns surrounding CROSSLEY TENDER. A winner on heavy going over fences here in November, he can record a first victory over the smaller obstacles.
Noruki (IRE) 50-1 (11-12) Chased winner, hit 11th, lost 2nd and not fluent 12th, not fluent and weakened 13th, soon not much room on inside and behind, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out, at Hereford 3m 1f hcp (4) sft in Dec.
Puppet Warrior 40-1 (11-3) Held up towards rear, headway after 3 out, weakened before 2 out, 7th of 9, 30 1/4l behind Blue Hussar (11-4) at Market Rasen 2m 7f hcp (4) sft in Jan.
Ask Catkin (IRE) 50-1 (10-9) Slowly away, always in rear, pulled up before 3 out, at Ludlow 3m hcp (3) sft in Jan.
Crossley Tender 6-1 (12-0) Led until 1st, chased leaders, mistake 4 out, weakened before 3 out, tired and jumped right 2 out, pulled up before last, at Lingfield 2m 4f hcp (4) hvy in Jan.
Age Of Wisdom (IRE) 16-1 (12-0) Held up rear of mid-division, behind 7th, headway 2 out, went 3rd and hit last, one pace flat, 3rd of 12, 8 1/2l behind Shimba Hills (10-1) at Lingfield 2m 3f hcp (5) hvy in Jan.
The Tin Miner (IRE) 16-1 (11-12) Made all, pushed along before 3 out, ridden and wandered approaching last, kept on gamely run-in, won at Plumpton 2m 5f hcp (5) sft in Jan beating Zoltan Varga (11-12) by 1 1/4l, 11 ran.
Velvet Cognac 11-4jfav (11-4) Clear with leader 2nd, ridden to lead 3 out, headed last, kept on one pace, 2nd of 8, 3 3/4l behind Clondaw Bisto (11-10) at Fakenham 3m 5f hcp (4) gs in Jan.
Little Boy Boru (IRE) 5-1 (11-9) Held up, fell 2nd, at Plumpton 2m 5f hcp (5) sft in Jan.
Invicta Lake (IRE) 28-1 (10-13) Towards rear most of way, switched left approaching last, plugged on run-in, never on terms, 5th of 10, 22 1/4l behind Fu Fu (11-1) at Fontwell 2m 6f hcp (4) sft in Jan.
