with winner, blundered 11th, ridden and lost place 3 out, weakened from next
made most, shaken up approaching 2 out, ridden and stayed on well last
close up on outside, lost place 4 out, soon ridden and weakened
held up in touch, hit 5th, headway 4 out, chased winner when hit 3 out and next, ridden and stayed on flat, not reach winner
held up but in touch, pushed along 4 out, ridden and no impression from next
Tighten Your Belt is narrowly preferred to Tufty Hopper. Venetia Williams' representative has clearly had his training troubles but he has to be given the verdict on a literal reading of his most recent run at Exeter. The form was given a sizeable boost by Bob Bob Bobbin last week, whilst Lough Derg was rated 140+ over hurdles. Tufty Hopper represents the very much in-form Ferdy Murphy yard. He went into the notebook after putting up a sterling effort at Catterick on New Year's Day. He had had almost three years off the course so any bets need to be carefully considered here. Onyourheadbeit should relish today's surface. First time cheekpieces are applied. Bannister Lad and Olney Lane look to have it to do on the book. Tighten Your Belt is accordingly nominated.
Bannister Lane 50-1 (10-3) Mid-division, mistake 8th, ridden 10th, weakened before next, 7th of 10, 34l behind Lord Brock (11-2) at Haydock 3m nov hcp chs 0-120 (3) sft.
Olney Lad 4-1 (11-0) Prominent, led after 5th, headed 9th, weakened after 14th, 4th of 14, 38l behind Idle Talk (11-0) at Worcester 2m 7f beg chs (D) gd in Nov.
Onyourheadbeit (IRE) 8-1 (11-12) Behind, headway 4th, ridden 3 out, soon weakened, behind when pulled up at the last in race won by Blunham Hill (10-5) at Towcester 2m 6f hcp chs 0-120 (D) sft in Nov, 11 ran.
Tighten Your Belt (IRE) 7-1 (11-6) Tracked leaders, every chance 2 out, kept on same pace, 2nd of 14, 6l behind Lough Derg (11-6) at Exeter 2m 7f beg chs (D) gs in Dec.
Tufty Hopper 12-1 (11-0) Held up towards rear, headway approaching 5 out, in 3rd when stumbled 3 out, left 2nd next, stayed on, 2nd of 11, 1 1/2l behind Rambling Minster (11-5) at Catterick 3m 1f beg chs (4) gd.
