held up towards rear, outpaced 3 out, headway before next, chased leaders approaching last, never able to challenge
held up in rear, under pressure after 3 out, behind when pulled up before next
held up towards rear, jumped slowly 1st and 2nd, driven and headway after 3 out, chased leaders next, weakened before last
mid-division, headway 4 out, chasing leaders when slightly hampered next, every chance 2 out, led before last, strongly challenged throughout run in, held on well
tracked leader, jumped slowly 1st, blundered badly 3 out, weakened quickly and pulled up before next
led, mistake 8th, strongly challenged 2 out, soon headed, rallied and every chance from last, no extra towards finish
chased leaders, driven to challenge 2 out, weakened before last
tracked leader, squeezed through to challenge approaching 3 out, weakened quickly before next
Sam Red was progressing well until taking a crashing fall at Newcastle last week. Terry The Fish landed a hat-trick early this year and has gone close at Worcester subsequently while Holly Bush Henry recorded a double in September and drops back down in class after a couple of modest efforts in better company, including a sixth at Cheltenham when ahead of Connetable. Beat That’s jumping continues to let him down but MONBEG OSCAR (NAP) should be sharper for last month’s second over 2m here and, with stamina not expected to be a problem, Evan Williams’ charge gets the nod with a conditional’s allowance further helping his cause.
Beat That (IRE) 7-2 (11-5) Chased leaders, mistake 10th, not fluent next, soon lost place, weakened before last, 3rd of 4, 24 3/4l behind Strong Pursuit (11-5) at Newbury 2m 6f (3) gs in Nov.
Dicosimo (FR) 50-1 (11-0) Raced wide throughout, took keen hold, held up, headway chasing leading pair after 2nd, chased leader 4th until 4 out, weakened next, tailed off and eased, last of 5, dist behind Lil Rockerfeller (11-0) at Ascot 2m 3f (1) gs in Nov.
Sam Red (FR) 6-1 (10-13) Mid-division, fell heavily 7th, at Newcastle 2m 7f hcp lst (1) sft in Dec.
Holly Bush Henry (IRE) 9-1 (10-8) Chased clear leader, closed 9th, hampered 3 out, led after 2 out, headed last, stayed on one pace flat, lost 3rd close home, 4th of 10, 10l behind Louis' Vac Pouch (10-6) at Aintree 3m 1f hcp (2) sft in Nov.
Terry The Fish (IRE) 12-1 (11-3) Led, mistakes 1st and 2nd, soon headed, led again 3 out, headed before next, rallied approaching last, no extra closing stages, 4th of 12, 8l behind Dell' Arca (11-10) at Newbury 3m hcp (2) gs in Nov.
Connetable (FR) 10-1 (10-9) Chased leaders, lost place when hit 3 out, outpaced and no impression from next, 5th of 9, 14 3/4l behind Thomas Campbell (11-10) at Cheltenham 3m 1f hcp lst (1) sft in Nov.
Head To The Stars 16-1 (10-7) Held up towards rear, outpaced before 3 out, plugged on from next, never reached leaders, 6th of 9, 15 3/4l behind Desert Cry (11-11) at Carlisle 2m 4f hcp (2) sft in Nov.
Monbeg Oscar (IRE) 8-1 (11-1) Tracked winner, driven and lost place before 2 out, ridden and no chance with front pair between last 2, left well beaten 2nd last, 2nd of 12, 9l behind Maria's Benefit (10-13) at Sandown 2m hcp (3) gs in Nov.