chased leaders, slow 3rd, soon in rear, pushed along halfway, weakened before 11th, behind when pulled up before 4 out
prominent, blundered 2nd, soon lost place, ridden to chase leaders 6th, weakened after 10th, behind when pulled up before 4 out
led, headed approaching 6th, led again 8th, headed 11th, under pressure before 4 out, weakened after 3 out, modest 3rd
chased leaders, went 2nd after 4th, led approaching 6th, headed 8th, led again 11th, drew clear from 2nd last, comfortably (2 fences ommited)
chased leaders, driven to challenge 4 out, kept on from 2 out, no chance with winner
held up in rear but in touch, slow 5th, lost touch 11th, tailed off when pulled up before 4 out
COURTOWN OSCAR made it three wins in his last four starts when scoring over fences at Carlisle six days ago. He was eased down in the closing stages so looks capable of defying a 5lb rise in this. Nosey Box had slid down the weights before going close at Down Royal in October and could figure but Special Wells failed to show any improvement on his second start of the season at Carlisle albeit in better company than this. The Toft made the frame over timber at Ayr last time and takes on the larger obstacles for the first time today.
Howaboutnow (IRE) 6-1 (11-4) Tracked leaders, lost place and reminders 14th, soon behind, tailed off, last of 7, dist behind Belmount (11-0) at Ludlow 3m hcp (3) gd in May.
Special Wells 4-1 (10-6) Tracked leaders in 4th, blundered 8th, weakened after 4 out, 6th of 7, 14 1/4l behind Shimla Dawn (11-7) at Carlisle 2m 4f hcp (3) gd in Nov.
Nosey Box (IRE) 22-1 (10-10) Slightly impeded 1st, towards rear, moderate 5th and mistake 12th, left chasing leader in moderate 2nd from 4 out, closed approaching 2 out, soon challenged, kept on without matching winner run-in, 2nd of 8, 1 1/2l behind Knockanarrigan (11-2) at Down Royal 3m hcp Yielding in Oct.
Courtown Oscar (IRE) 5-2fav (11-11) Prominent, led approaching 2 out, clear next, heavily eased run in, walked over line, won at Carlisle 3m 1f hcp (4) hvy in Nov beating Bescot Springs (11-7) by 4l, 9 ran.
Joseph Mercer (IRE) 20-1 (10-7) Tracked leaders, weakened after 4 out, last of 9, dist behind Call It On (11-1) at Wetherby 3m hcp (4) sft in Nov.
The Toft 40-1 (10-7) Tracked leaders, lost place from 6 out, headway before 3 out, ridden and left 2nd from last, no impression, 2nd of 12, 8l behind Comragh (10-7) at Ayr 2m 4f mdn (5) sft in Nov.
