led to 2nd, ridden to lead 2 out, edged right and headed run-in, kept on
held up in touch, weakened from 3 out
held up towards rear, headway and hit 3 out, one pace from next
held up in touch, ridden and weakened before last
prominent, ridden before 2 out, one pace and no impression
behind, mistake and lost iron 1st, led 2nd, unseated rider before 4 out
in rear, blundered 4 out, weakened 3 out
tracked leaders, led before 4 out, headed 2 out, ridden before last, led and bumped run-in, kept on well
This is much the weaker of the two divisions. GRAND INTRODUCTION only weakened approaching the last at Southwell last month and the form of that race has worked out well with the winner landing a competitive handicap at Cheltenham next time and the runner-up finishing second in last Saturday's Lanzarote at Kempton. Fergal O'Brien's charge can open his account here. Winning pointer got outpaced in a Wincanton bumper on Boxing Day but should fare better here. He's preferred to Justatenner and Lift The Lid, both tailed off on their respective debuts over hurdles. Tactical Manoeuvre has a bit of scope and may be best of the rest.
Grand Introduction (IRE) 66-1 (10-12) Held up in rear, not fluent 4th, in touch but ridden after 3 out, no impression next, 5th of 9, 15 1/4l behind Singlefarmpayment (10-12) at Southwell 3m (4) sft in Dec.
Hill Forts Gypse (IRE) 200-1 (10-7) Well off the pace in rear, no chance from 8th, tailed off 11th, distant 5th when pulled up before 2 out, at Exeter 2m 3f (2) hvy in Dec.
Justatenner 50-1 (10-12) Mid-division in touch, tracked leaders 4th, ridden and weakened before 3 out, tailed off, 10th of 14, dist behind Tapaculo (11-5) at Chepstow 2m 3f (4) hvy in Dec.
Lift The Lid (IRE) 20-1 (11-5) Held up in touch, weakened after 4 out, 15th of 18, dist behind Emerging Talent (11-5) at Exeter 2m 1f mdn (5) hvy in Jan.
Present Times (IRE) 100-1 (10-12) Always behind, weakened from 3 out, tailed off, last of 9, dist behind Brain Power (10-12) at Kempton 2m (4) gs in Nov.
Red Red Rover (IRE) 7-1 (12-0) A.p; led 9 til hdd aft 3 out; one pce, 4th of 15, 3 3/4l behind Mystery Edition (11-7) at Black Forest Lodge 2m 4f mdn in Nov.
Shouting Hill (IRE) 33-1 (10-12) Always behind, weakened before 3 out, tailed off, 11th of 14, dist behind Never Equalled (10-12) at Ffos Las 2m (4) hvy in Dec.
Stop The Press 14-1 (11-2) In touch, effort 3f out, no extra final furlong, 5th of 8, 14 3/4l behind My Liege (11-2) at Wincanton 1m 7f (6) sft in Dec.
Tactical Manoeuvre (IRE) 8-1 (11-10) Alw pr, disp 5out & 3out, ld up bef last, slight adv & ev ch when fell last, at Kirkistown 3m mdn sft in Nov.