in touch, weakened 10th
in touch, raced keenly, not fluent 9th, close 3rd when fell 12th
tracked leader, not fluent 11th, led approaching 2 out, left clear last
held up in last, losing touch from 10th, went poor 3rd after 4 out
led, headed approaching 2 out, switched right between last 2, 2 lengths down and looking held when blundered last, not recover
RING THE BOSS, Oh Crick and The Vicar are the only realistic contenders and Philip Hobbs' runner is marginally preferred. Ring The Boss slammed Breedsbreeze on heavy ground at Sandown in a Listed hurdle in 2007 but was firmly put in his place by that rival on his penultimate start at Wincanton. He has since been beaten a long way behind The Market Man and isn't going to reach the top rank over fences but may be good enough to score here. Oh Crick is a tough horse who keeps pulling out a little more and he gave Afsoun an awful fright at this track two runs ago. He finished a length and three quarters in front of Ring The Boss at Newbury when in receipt of 3lbs and there shouldn't be much between them here although he does have something to prove with regard to the trip. The Vicar also has something to prove as he ran out on his penultimate start but there was no repeat of that performance at Plumpton in a race that may turn out to have been decent; this longer trip will be just his cup of tea and he merits respect. Freddies Return ran a couple of decent races at the track over hurdles but faces a stiff task in a race which should revolve around the three principals. Cases can be made for and against each of them so preference for Ring The Boss in this intriguing race is only token.
Kinkeel (IRE) 10-1 (10-2) Mid-division, headway after 5th, ridden after 4 out, led approaching 3 out, headed after 2 out, regained lead last, stayed on under pressure, won at Hereford 2m 3f hcp chs (5) sft beating Tarsus (11-1) by 3/4l, 16 ran.
Oh Crick (FR) 11-1 (11-5) Chased leading pair, mistake 7th, hit 12th, went 2nd 4 out until next, weakened after, tailed off, 3rd of 4, 25l behind The Market Man (11-1) at Newbury 2m 4f nov chs Grd 2 (1) gs in Nov.
Ring The Boss (IRE) 3-1 (11-8) Led to 3rd, chased winner, hit 10th and 12th, weakened into 4th when blundered 3 out, last of 4, 26l behind The Market Man (11-1) at Newbury 2m 4f nov chs Grd 2 (1) gs in Nov.
Freddies Return (IRE) 5-1 (11-0) Held up, not fluent 2nd, ridden after 7th, effort approaching 3 out, soon no impression, 6th of 15, 21l behind Go Amwell (11-0) at Uttoxeter 2m 4f mdn hdl (4) gs in Dec '07.
The Vicar (IRE) 9-4 (10-13) Led at steady pace, quickened tempo from 7th, slow jump and joined 3 out, soon headed, no extra from next, 3rd of 4, 3 1/2l behind Heathcote (11-5) at Plumpton 2m 1f nov chs (3) hvy in Dec.
