held up, headway 13th, chased leaders next, challenged 2 out, every chance last, no extra flat
held up mid-division, lost place from 9th
with leader, every chance 2 out, one pace from last
held up, unseated rider 11th
chased leaders, fell 11th
held up, jumped slow 13th, weakened after 3 out
made all, under pressure from 3 out, ridden approaching last, stayed on gamely flat
held up towards rear, hit 4th, weakened from 4 out
held up mid-division, chased leaders 12th, no impression from 3 out
Idle Talk would have polished this lot off readily a couple of seasons ago, and while he is respected from his current mark of 127, he still looks vulnerable enough and preference is for NIKOS EXTRA. Alan King has now got the string firing much better and the selection was good enough to win back in November, when there was more of a cloud hanging over Barbary Castle. The six-year-old then came out and ran well without winning at Kempton on Boxing Day, in a similar quality race to this. Trip and ground suit and with that upturn in fortunes for the stable he may now be capable of better. Mill Side has been raised 8lbs for a narrow defeat of Quattrocento at Doncaster, though the form looks very solid with the front pair well clear, and he has claims from his revised mark over this trip if handling the softer ground. Oscar Park has his fair share of ability but things to prove now after some disappointments, while Coach Lane does little wrong, but is just one-paced, and Nikos Extra gets the nod.
Oscar Park (IRE) 14-1 (11-1) Held up in touch, weakened 3 out, 9th of 16, well behind Diamond Harry (11-12) at Haydock 3m 1f listed hcp hdl (1) sft in Nov.
Mill Side 11-2 (11-7) Held up mid-division, chased leader approaching 5 out, led approaching 3 out, hard ridden and under pressure last, all out, won at Doncaster 3m hcp chs 0-120 (3) gd in Dec beating Quattrocento (11-5) by nk, 11 ran.
Idle Talk (IRE) 9-1 (11-9) Chased leaders, weakened 4 out, 6th of 10, well behind Mr Strachan (11-4) at Hexham 3m 1f hcp chs 0-135 (3) hvy in Dec.
Nikos Extra (FR) 3-1fav (11-10) In touch, mistake 2nd, effort 2 out, stayed on same pace, 3rd of 13, 7l behind Polyfast (10-12) at Kempton 2m 4f nov hcp chs 0-130 (3) gs in Dec.
Tisfreetdream (IRE) 4-1 (11-0) Led to 4th, chased winner to 12th, outpaced approaching 4 out, last of 3, 20l behind Theatrical Moment (11-6) at Leicester 2m 7f nov chs (3) sft in Dec.
Our Hero (IRE) 9-1 (11-6) With leader, led 6th, headed 10th, blundered 13th, soon weakened, 4th of 12, 26l behind Wogan (11-8) at Doncaster 3m nov hcp chs 0-115 (3) gs in Jan.
Daldini 6-1 (11-8) Led 2nd to 5th, with winner led again 9th to next ridden 5 out, weakened after next, 5th of 10, 35l behind Stormin Exit (10-8) at Newcastle 2m 4f hcp chs 0-125 (3) hvy in Jan.
Coach Lane 10-1 (11-12) Held up, headway 6th, went 2nd 10th, led 4 out, headed when not fluent last, quickly beaten, 2nd of 5, 14l behind Pelo Du Bief (10-4) at Uttoxeter 2m 6f hcp chs 0-115 (4) hvy in Jan.
Mylord Collonges (FR) 25-1 (10-12) Towards rear, struggling 13th, ridden 3 out, stayed on under pressure from next, never near leaders, 6th of 17, 22l behind Sound Stage (10-3) at Cheltenham 2m 5f cond hcp chs (4yo+) (3) sft in Dec.
