led, headed 5 out, weakened next, behind when pulled up before 2 out
mid-division, lost place 6th, soon behind, tailed off 12th, pulled up after 14th
fell 1st
tracked leader, led before 3 out, driven clear approaching last, stayed on well flat
mid-division, headway 15th, outpaced 4 out, 4th and no chance when pulled up before 2 out
chased leaders, driven and lost place 14th, pulled up before next
hampered 1st, held up behind, some headway when pulled up after 14th
mid-division, headway and in touch 8th, reminders 13th, ridden and kept on same pace from 2 out, no impression
chased leaders, reminders and lost place 10th, soon behind, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out
held up, headway and in touch 13th, led 5 out, headed before 3 out, ridden next, no impression approaching last
chased leaders, outpaced 4 out, soon beaten, left poor 4th 2 out
always behind, tailed off when blundered 16th, refused 3 out
Ryminster has won on heavy ground but is probably better on a faster surface so John Wade's gelding looks worth taking on with preference for Oscar The Boxer, who gets the vote over Tomillielou. The last mentioned won a handicap on good ground over course and distance on Boxing Day and has also shown good form on testing ground so has to be respected but he may be a shade high in the weights so is probably booked for a place at best. Ferdy Murphy's Carryduff got no further than the sixth before unseating his rider in the race won by Tomillielou on Boxing Day and has to be considered but he has broken blood vessels in the past and may be best watched. John Quinn's Auntie Kathleen is less exposed than most of these and could improve for his recent reappearance, while Bang And Blame is likely to take these along for much of the way but could do with some help from the handicapper. The vote then goes to Malcolm Jefferson's Oscar The Boxer who has shown decent form over hurdles, including on testing ground, and he looks worth chancing on his chasing debut.
Bang And Blame (IRE) 9-2 (11-9) Led after 3rd, headed approaching 11th, weakened from 14th, 5th of 6, well behind Young Smokey (10-3) at Catterick 3m 1f hcp chs 0-110 (4) gd in Dec.
Gatsby (IRE) 50-1 (10-9) Always behind, tailed off from 9th, 9th of 11, well behind Super Lord (11-12) at Warwick 3m hcp chs 0-115 (4) sft in Dec.
Oscar The Boxer (IRE) 9-1 (10-12) Chased leaders, led 4 out, headed approaching last, kept on, 2nd of 17, 1 1/2l behind Lago (10-4) at Carlisle 2m 4f amt hcp hdl 0-105 (4) hvy in Nov.
Matmata de Tendron (FR) 8-1 (10-11) Held up in touch, pushed along approaching 6th, struggling halfway and pulled up in race won by Victory Gunner (10-10) at Market Rasen 3m 4f hcp chs 0-120 (3) sft in Dec, 8 ran.
Auntie Kathleen 5-2 (10-12) Held up, hit 6th and 9th, headway 4 out, effort next, weakened 2 out, 4th of 6, 37l behind Pillaging Pict (10-6) at Newcastle 2m 4f hcp chs 0-115 (4) gs in Dec.
Desperate Dex (IRE) 66-1 (10-3) Held up in touch, took close order 13th, ridden and weakened approaching 2 out, 4th of 8, 7l behind Keenan's Future (11-9) at Bangor 3m 6f hcp chs 0-120 (3) gd in Dec.
Ryminster 3-1jt-fav (11-5) In touch, blundered and unseated rider at the 6th in race won by Tomillielou (10-10) at Sedgefield 3m 3f hcp chs 0-95 (5) gd in Dec, 14 ran.
Tomillielou 10-1 (10-10) Tracked leaders, led 11th, made rest, stayed on strongly run-in, won at Sedgefield 3m 3f hcp chs 0-95 (5) gd in Dec beating Goforthegap (11-0) by 1 1/2l, 14 ran.
Accepting 7-1 (11-6) Led to after 7th, chased leaders, lost place 4 out, soon ridden, rallied approaching 2 out, stayed on to go 2nd after last, no chance winner, 2nd of 17, 23l behind Sarrococca (11-8) at Wetherby 3m hcp hdl 0-95 (5) gs in Dec.
Carryduff 7-1 (11-9) Mid-division, headway and in touch when blundered and unseated rider at the 6th in race won by Tomillielou (10-10) at Sedgefield 3m 3f hcp chs 0-95 (5) gd in Dec, 14 ran.
Skenfrith 10-1 (11-7) Led to 1st, chased leader, reminders 5th, lost place 10th, soon behind, 8th of 10, well behind Low Reactor (10-9) at Newcastle 3m hcp chs 0-100 (4) gs in Dec.
Has Scored (IRE) 20-1 (10-8) Towards rear, struggling halfway, tailed off when pulled up at the 15th in race won by Tomillielou (10-10) at Sedgefield 3m 3f hcp chs 0-95 (5) gd in Dec, 14 ran.
