tracked leaders, mistake 5th, pushed along until closer order while not fluent 10th, struggling from 5 out
tracked leaders, pecked 5th, took closer order 11th, in 3rd when fell 5 out
with leaders, led 4th, headed 4 out, ridden 4 out, every chance last, not quicken towards finish
with leaders, reminders after 9th, led 4 out, under pressure and not fluent 3 out, all out
led to 4th, remained with leaders, reminders after 11th, struggling from 5 out
Nonrunner
McKelvy gets the vote here ahead of Lord Olympia and Sharp Belline. Much as McKelvey is seven pounds above his November course and distance winning mark, he is still fairly lightly-raced and open to improvement and should be considered. Jungle Jinks, who has also won over course and distance, is eleven pounds better for eleven lengths based on that Wetherby form with McKelvey. Supreme Developer has not yet built on his good novice form of last season, so others are preferred. Lord Olympia is a little hard to assess based on his Folkestone win, but he has plenty of scope for improvement from his current rating. Moorlands Again ran pretty well behind Ebony Light at Bangor last time but, again, others are preferred, including Sharp Belline, whose second here behind Sir Storm last time was a decent-enough effort; he is also at the right end of the weights and hails from a good stable, and he has won from a pound higher mark over hurdles. All in all, he is very much respected, but we will stick with McKelvey as the selection.
Mckelvey (IRE) 8-1 (10-8) Mid-division, mistake 16th, soon in rear, tailed off when pulled up 5 out in race won by L'aventure (10-4) at Chepstow 3m 5f hcp chs Grd 3 (A) gs in Dec, 18 ran.
Lord Olympia (IRE) 9-4 (11-0) In touch, headway 15th, soon chasing leaders, led 2 out, ran on well, won at Folkestone 3m 1f beg chs (E) gd in Dec beating Vesuve (11-0) by 8l, 13 ran.
Moorlands Again 4-1 (11-3) With leader, led 3rd to 14th, ridden when mistake 3 out, kept on same pace, 4th of 9, 6l behind Ebony Light (11-12) at Bangor 3m 6f hcp chs 0-120 (D) hvy in Dec.
Jungle Jinks (IRE) 6-1 (11-6) Tracked leader to 9th, soon outpaced, behind from 3 out, 6th of 10, well behind D J Flippance (10-0) at Ayr 3m 1f hcp chs 0-125 (D) sft in Dec.
Sharp Belline (IRE) 5-1 (10-13) Led to 2nd, lost place 6th, stayed on strongly to go 2nd last, no impression, 2nd of 13, 5l behind Sir Storm (11-0) at Wetherby 2m 4f hcp chs 0-125 (D) sft in Dec.
Supreme Developer (IRE) 9-2co-fav (11-7) Never going well in rear, blundered 16th pulled up 5 out in race won by Eurotrek (11-5) at Newbury 3m 2f hcp chs 0-130 (C) gs in Dec, 8 ran.
