tracked leader, lost place 6th, soon beaten
mid-division, headway to chase leaders halfway, led 2 out, hard ridden, stayed on well
behind, headway after 3rd, soon chasing leaders, effort before 2 out, soon one pace
mid-division, lost place 4 out, rallied 2 out, never dangerous
held up in touch, led approaching 6th, headed 2 out, rallied after last, kept on well
led after 1st, headed approaching 6th, soon driven, weakened before 2 out
held up in rear, ridden 5 out, soon beaten
led 1st, remained prominent, lost place before 6th, rallied 2 out, soon no impression
chased leaders, weakened 5 out, behind when pulled up 2 out
behind, headway when mistake 2 out, soon weakened
behind, headway 3 out, soon chasing leaders, effort next, stayed on well under pressure, nearest finish
A competitive contest with plenty arriving in good nick. WHAT AN OSCAR is forgiven one poor effort between two decisive successes in his last three outings and his pilot's 7lb claim could prove invaluable in this tightly-knit contest. Swift Chap seeks a hat-trick after two battling successes for which he's up 9lb, whilst Mac Beattie is far less exposed after just the four hurdles runs, most recently when scoring nicely at Warwick. He could be the main threat. Mister Chancer and Spirit of Barbados represent top in-form yards but both might need the run, whilst Molly Round is interesting returning to hurdles. She's been unlucky this season and is a talented performer on last season's evidence in handicap company.
Otter Mist 15-2 (11-12) Chased leaders, hit 8th, went 2nd 4 out, led well before next, headed 3 out, chased leader until next, weakened from last, 5th of 13, 19l behind Lord Crewe (11-1) at Exeter 2m 7f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gs in Nov.
Mister Chancer (IRE) 5-4fav (11-5) Raced wide, in touch, not fluent 1st 2nd and next, headway 6th, went 2nd 3 out until before next, stayed on same pace, 3rd of 6, 40l behind The Strawberry One (10-12) at Towcester 2m 5f nh nov hdl (4) gf in May.
Beside The Fire 22-1 (11-7) Chased leader, challenged from 6th, narrow lead briefly and hit 3 out, headed soon after, stayed chasing leading pair until hung left and weakened to 4th before last, 4th of 10, 10l behind Di Kaprio (11-9) at Newbury 2m 5f nov hcp hdl 0-120 (4) gs in Nov.
Gaspara (FR) 14-1 (11-11) Mid-division, not fluent 4th, ridden 7th, well beaten after 3 out, 5th of 9, 36l behind Extreme Conviction (11-7) at Market Rasen 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-120 (3) gd in Sep '10.
Spirit Of Barbados (IRE) Evensfav (10-13) Tracked leaders, took keen hold early stages, not fluent 9th, ridden to chase winner 3 out until before next, soon beaten, weakened from 2 out, 3rd of 7, 23l behind Grovemere (10-6) at Ffos Las 3m hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gf in Jun.
What An Oscar (IRE) 7-2fav (11-9) Made all, pushed along and kept on strongly on long run to last, comfortably, won at Hereford 2m 4f nov hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gs in Nov beating Briefcase (11-9) by 2 3/4l, 7 ran.
Bathwick Quest (IRE) 9-2 (11-8) Tracked leader, ridden 3out, soon weakened, 5th of 6, 47l behind Farleigh House (11-4) at Stratford 2m 1f hcp chs 0-115 (4) gf in Sep.
Molly Round (IRE) 12-1 (10-2) Chased leaders until blundered and unseated rider 3rd, in a race won by Duke Of Lucca (11-0) at Wincanton 2m 5f beg chs (4) gs, 9 ran.
Swift Chap 11-1 (11-10) Tracked leaders, led after 2 out, soon ridden, headed last, kept on gamely to regain lead close home, won at Wincanton 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gs in Nov beating Wise Hawk (10-1) by hd, 12 ran.
Mac Beattie 11-1 (11-3) Held up in mid-division, headway 4 out, chased leaders next, led 2 out, clear between last 2, stayed on well, won at Warwick 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-100 (5) gd in Nov beating Nouailhas (11-6) by 7l, 17 ran.
Posh Emily 7-2 (11-0) Tracked leaders, ridden before last, kept on to lead last 100 yards, driven out, won at Taunton 2m 1f mares hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gd in Nov beating Illysantachristina (11-2) by 1 3/4l, 7 ran.
