BANTEER was no match for the first two home when third on the testing ground at Wincanton but the winner has been given a handicap mark of 128 and he will find this less competitive. Bumper winner Sao Carlos came up short at Lingfield when sent off favourite on his hurdling debut but that was his first outing of the year and he’s preferred to Uttoxeter third Jo Arengeot Bey Aa while Konfusion hasn’t raced since the summer of 2022 and Walk On Quest debuts under Rules having been sold for £100,000 after finishing second between the flags in Ireland.
Banteer (IRE) 9-1 (11-0) Took keen hold, midfield, ridden and headway into 3rd before 2 out, soon outpaced by leaders, not fluent last, kept on one pace run-in, 3rd of 15, 15l behind Lump Sum (11-7) at Wincanton 1m 7f (4) hvy in Dec.
Blazing Soldier (IRE) 7-1 (12-2) Mid-div best, 7th from 5th & 6th 6out, cl 5th bef 3out, wknd well bef 2out, 7th of 11, 24 1/2l behind Glens Sensation (11-11) at Ballindenisk 3m mdn Yielding in May.
Jean De Monts (FR) 15-2 (11-0) Towards rear, ridden and weakened before omitted 3 out, tailed off, last of 9, dist behind Mister Moodles (11-0) at Doncaster 2m 1f (4) gd in Dec.
Jo Arengeot Bey Aa (FR) 14-1 (11-2) Mid-division, pushed along 3f out, plugged on, took 3rd closing stages, no match for front duo, 3rd of 8, 7l behind Gamesters Guy (11-2) at Uttoxeter 2m (5) hvy in Nov.
Konfusion 8-1 (10-12) Held up in 4th, jumped left and last 5th, closed before 2 out, went 3rd before jumping left and not fluent last, no impression on winner, kept on, 3rd of 5, 3 1/4l behind Bathiva (11-2) at Southwell 2m (4) gd in Jul.
Sao Carlos 13-8fav (11-0) Jumped right, in touch, headway to track leaders 3 out, ridden next, outpaced approaching last, rallied close home, 4th of 8, 6 1/2l behind Colours On Canvas (11-0) at Lingfield 2m (4) gs in Nov.
Walk On Quest (IRE) 4-1 (11-6) Tr ldrs, 2l 4th 1/2way, prog to disp 2nd 4out, jnd ldr with ev ch appr str, kow flat, 2nd of 7, 1/2l behind Al Gasparo (11-11) at Loughrea 3m mdn Soft - Heavy in Mar.
