held up in touch, close 3rd when fell 11th
towards rear, not fluent and reminders from 8th, left poor 4th at 13th, weakened from 5 out, tailed off
in rear, fell 11th
tracked leaders, led 5th, headed 13th, led again 4 out, under pressure from 2 out, driven out from last
led to 5th, remained close up, led again 13th, ridden and headed 4 out, every chance when hit 2 out, stayed on from last
held up in touch, effort 10th, soon weakened, pulled up before 11th
held up in touch, challenged 3 out, ridden and every chance when hit 2 out, kept on from last
with leader and keen, ridden when fell 13th
always behind, reminders and lost place from 6th, pulled up after 9th
Conditions here should suit Ebony Light, who can defy a hefty rise for his latest win to score from Kerry Lads, Florida Dream and Ossmoses. The selection relishes a test of stamina on soft ground, and has gone up 9lb for a five length defeat of Brandy Wine at Bangor over 3m 6f last time. However, everything else in the field looks exposed and he might be good enough to follow up. Kerry Lads is another who loves a trip and soft ground. His yard are going well at present, though he had never won off anything like this current mark and may still find this too tough. Florida Dream was a winner at Huntingdon last time on decent ground, though he has handled heavy in the past. A 7lb rise for that neck success won't make a repeat easy in these conditions, so he is opposed, while Ossmoses has to cope with a similar rise for winning a hard race at Kelso last time by a short head, and can be taken on. Hussard Collonges is a light of former days now, while The Kew Tour wants better ground, so we will stick with Ebony Light to shine.
Ebony Light (IRE) 9-1 (11-12) Tracked leaders, led 14th, clear 3 out, easily, won at Bangor 3m 6f hcp chs 0-120 (D) hvy in Dec beating Brandy Wine (10-4) by 5l, 9 ran.
Malek (IRE) 33-1 (10-0) In rear, lost touch 9th pulled up at the 11th in race won by Therealbandit (9-10) at Wetherby 3m 1f hcp chs Grd 3 (A) sft in Dec, 10 ran.
Glen Warrior 2-1 (11-13) Chased leader, ridden approaching 4 out, kept on same pace, 3rd of 6, 8l behind Whitford Don (11-13) at Exeter 2m 7f nov chs (C) hvy in Mar.
Kerry Lads (IRE) 6-1 (11-9) Led, driven 2 out, mistake, headed last, ridden, kept on flat, 2nd of 10, 1 1/2l behind D J Flippance (10-0) at Ayr 3m 1f hcp chs 0-125 (D) sft in Dec.
Ossmoses (IRE) 11-2 (10-0) Led to 2nd, led again 12th, not fluent 3 out, headed next, rallied to lead again after last, all out, won at Kelso 3m 1f hcp chs 0-145 (B) gs in Dec beating Undeniable (10-0) by a shd, 8 ran.
Hussard Collonges (FR) 4-1 (11-12) Tracked leader, led 8th, headed 13th, remained in touch until ridden and weakened 2 out, 6th of 7, 38l behind Time To Reflect (10-3) at Kelso 3m 1f hcp chs 0-125 (D) sft in Apr.
The Kew Tour (IRE) 9-2 (10-12) Tracked leader, led 12th, headed after 5 out, ridden and weakened from 3 out, 4th of 5, 24l behind You're Special (10-9) at Doncaster 3m 2f hcp chs 0-140 (B) gs in Dec.
Florida Dream (IRE) 8-1 (11-12) Led, headed 2nd, remained with leader, left in lead 8th, strongly challenged approaching last, all out, won at Huntingdon 3m nov hcp chs 0-110 (D) gd in Dec beating Bell Lane Lad (11-3) by a nk, 12 ran.
Devil's Run (IRE) 16-1 (11-9) Mistakes towards rear, blundered 11th, behind from halfway, 5th of 11, 33l behind Miss Mattie Ross (9-10) at Kelso 2m 6f hcp chs 0-120 (D) gs in Nov.
