mid-division, headway to chase leaders 5 out, outpaced next, stayed on into 2nd, no chance with winner
mid-division, lost place after 10th, soon behind, pulled up before next
chased leaders, slow 12th, weakened after 5 out
held up towards rear, headway 13th, chased leaders next, weakened 3 out
tracked leader, led before 4 out, driven 3 out, stayed on strongly
chased leaders, weakened 4 out, pulled up before 2 out
held up in rear, outpaced 6 out, rallied 2 out, stayed on into 3rd after last, nearest finish
led, slow 2nd, headed before 4 out, soon rallied, no extra closing stages
DINO BOY (NAP) has to shoulder a welter burden but otherwise ticks all the boxes for a race like this. He made a winning start over fences over this course and distance last month and didn’t do much wrong subsequently at Wincanton after getting outpaced around the final turn. Sigurd was successful over track and trip on Boxing Day but is 6lb higher now and far more exposed. Clondaw Rigger has been a bit disappointing this term but is still preferred to stable companion Itsamanslife with Charlie Price taking off 5lb. Virnon was second here 12 days ago but still beaten 10 lengths and races off the same mark while Newberry New has questions to answer at present.
Dino Boy (FR) 4-1fav (11-4) Chased leaders, a few slow jumps, mistake 16th, driven after 3 out, held from 2 out, one pace, 3rd of 10, 7 3/4l behind Nearly Perfect (11-9) at Wincanton 3m 1f hcp (4) sft in Jan.
Newberry New (IRE) 25-1 (10-6) Towards rear, slow 2nd, ridden and brief effort 11th, slow next, soon behind, 7th of 8, 36l behind Ravenhill Road (11-9) at Haydock 2m 6f hcp (3) sft in Dec.
Virnon 22-1 (10-9) Mid-division, blundered 13th, headway to chase leaders 4 out, stayed on into 2nd after last, no chance with winner, 2nd of 10, 10l behind Ice Cool Champs (11-12) at Wetherby 3m hcp (4) sft in Jan.
Clondaw Rigger (IRE) 7-2fav (11-6) Chased leaders, mistake 3rd, not fluent and lost a few places 8th, well behind 14th, pulled up before 2 out, at Hereford 3m 1f hcp (4) sft in Nov.
Itsamanslife (IRE) 14-1 (11-12) Chased leaders early, mid-division, mistake 6th and 10th, headway 15th, mistake 4 out, weakened before 2 out, 5th of 13, 36 3/4l behind Thomas Shelby (11-10) at Huntingdon 3m hcp (4) gs in Dec.
Packettotherafters (IRE) 6-1 (10-12) In touch, slow 13th, headway 15th, not fluent 5 out, weakened next, behind when pulled up before 2 out, at Wincanton 3m 1f hcp (4) gd in Nov.
Sigurd (GER) 15-2 (10-3) Mid-division, struggling 12th, closed from last bend, left 3rd 2 out (normal 3 out), led before omitted last, edged right flat, driven out, won at Wetherby 3m hcp (4) sft in Dec beating Hard Knocks (10-3) by 4 1/2l, 10 ran.
Rollerball Rocco (IRE) 8-1 (10-5) Prominent, ridden 13th, weakened before 4 out, tailed off, 5th of 9, dist behind Seaston Spirit (12-1) at Uttoxeter 3m hcp (4) hvy in Dec.
