tracked winner, mistake 11th, jumped left 13th, not fluent and reminder next, ridden before 3 out, no impression after next
chased leaders, awkward 6th and reminder, outpaced 17th, well beaten 4 out, lost 3rd and weakened next
raced in 4th, not jump well, struggling 17th, went modest 3rd 3 out
made all, not fluent 3rd, pushed clear after 2 out, comfortably
badly hampered and unseated rider 1st
in rear, hampered 2nd, mistake 7th, behind next, went left and slow 9th, slow and not fluent 11th, pulled up before 15th
OSCARSLAD missed the whole of last year and was making his chasing debut when third at Exeter. He ran well for a long way on that occasion and should have come on for both the run and the experience. Old Tricks posted his best effort so far over fences when making the frame at Newton Abbot and he's another to consider. Bit Of A Clown was sent off favourite in a lower grade chase at Plumpton but never threatened while Market Option should improve for last month's chasing debut effort at Stratford.
Oscarslad (IRE) 5-1 (11-2) Tracked leader, not fluent and challenged 4th, led 6th until 7th, not fluent and every chance 4 out, lost 2nd 2 out, no extra before last, 3rd of 13, 20l behind Caulfields Venture (11-8) at Exeter 3m nov hcp chs 0-115 (4) gd in Mar.
Old Tricks (IRE) 11-2 (11-6) Chased leaders, lost position and in last pair when reminders after 6th, ridden after 8th, weakened before 11th, left poor 4th 2 out, plugged on into 3rd final 50 yards, 3rd of 7, 7l behind Special Account (11-12) at Newton Abbot 2m 5f hcp chs 0-115 (4) sft.
Market Option (IRE) 7-1 (11-5) Not always fluent, prominent early, tracked leaders, outpaced by front pair from 3 out, well held before lost, lost 3rd close home, 4th of 10, 17l behind Ballincurrig (11-12) at Stratford 2m 5f nov hcp chs 0-115 (4) gd in Mar.
Ruapehu (IRE) 25-1 (10-13) Chased leaders, dropped rear after 8th, lost touch halfway, left remote 3rd 2 out, 3rd of 5, well behind Ardkilly Witness (10-13) at Wincanton 2m 5f nov chs (3) hvy in Dec.
Kings Apollo 6-1 (10-12) Chased leaders, not always fluent, ridden and one pace from 3 out, 4th of 13, 21l behind Bob Keown (11-1) at Exeter 2m 7f nov hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gd in Mar.
Bit Of A Clown (IRE) 7-2fav (11-2) Chased leader until before 9th, chased leaders, ridden and poutpaced after 4 out, plugged on again to modest 4th flat, 4th of 10, 13l behind Kastani Beach (11-12) at Plumpton 2m 4f cond hcp chs (5) gd in Mar.
General Girling 17-2 (10-0) In touch, lost place 5th, ridden 8th, well beaten after 9th, tailed off when mistake 2 out, 8th of 13, dis behind Bob Keown (11-1) at Exeter 2m 7f nov hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gd in Mar.
