led, quickened clear 5 out, 7 lengths advantage 3 out to before next, ridden between last 2, headed narrowly last, no extra flat
tracked leader to 3rd, in touch, outpaced 5 out, soon no chance with clear pair, not fluent 2 out, lost remote 3rd flat
in touch, tracked leader from 3rd, 7 lengths down 3 out, rallied next, led narrowly last, ridden and kept on flat
held up in rear, outpaced 6th, went 4th behind clear leaders next, ridden and stayed on to take remote 3rd flat, no chance with front pair
held up in 4th, outpaced when blundered badly and lost place 7th, no chance after, continued tailed off
This track is a good test for novice chasers but SHANTOU ROCK jumped like the proverbial stag when making all at Newton Abbot and could take some pegging back if allowed an easy lead again under his penalty. Ozzie The Oscar has a rating of 140 over hurdles and is an interesting recruit as he needed his reappearance behind The New One at Ffos Las. Full Irish has won a bumper and a hurdle so should also make a chaser, though this isn't an easy start. Ramonex and Positively Dylan will need to improve on their hurdles for to figure, barring accidents.
Shantou Rock (IRE) 7-2 (11-0) Jumped well and set good gallop, clear from 3rd, impressive, won at Newton Abbot 2m (3) gd in Oct beating The Unit (11-0) by 9l, 6 ran.
Full Irish (IRE) 7-1 (11-10) Chased leaders, lost place before 4th, headway after 3 out, not fluent 2 out, no extra last, 8th of 16, 12 3/4l behind Minella Awards (11-8) at Sandown 2m 4f hcp (1) sft in Mar.
Ozzie The Oscar (IRE) 9-2 (10-4) Held up in rear but in touch, took closer order before 3 out, weakened next, 5th of 6, 27 1/2l behind The New One (11-10) at Ffos Las 2m hcp (2) sft in Oct.
Positively Dylan 16-1 (11-0) In rear, outpaced before 3 out, kept on to take 3rd place towards finish, no impression, 3rd of 5, 14 1/2l behind Sceau Royal (11-0) at Warwick 2m (4) gd in Oct.
Ramonex (GER) 5-2 (11-4) Led, headed after 4 out, soon led again, not fluent 2 out, soon headed, no impression on winner after, stayed on same pace, 2nd of 6, 10l behind Whatmore (10-12) at Aintree 2m 1f (4) gd in May.
