held up mid-division and keen, headway before 4 out to chase leaders, ridden before last, every chance run-in, no extra towards finish
held up towards rear and keen, headway after 4 out, weakened from 2 out
led, headed before 3 out, soon weakened, unseated rider 3 out
held up towards rear, pushed along before 4 out, ridden before next, soon weakened
held up in touch, went 4th before 3 out, led 2 out, headed run-in, no extra and just held on to 3rd place close home
tracked leaders, pushed along before 3 out, soon weakened
held up mid-division, weakened after 4 out
held up mid-division, headway to chase leaders before 3 out, weakened before 2 out
with leader, led before 3 out, headed 2 out, kept on and just held for 3rd close home
in rear, quickly pulled up before 4 out
held up towards rear, headway before 3 out, pecked 3 out, ridden before last, led run-in, kept on well towards finish
Master Dee has a similar profile to STELLAR NOTION in that he arrives over hurdles having shown promise in the point-to-point field and won a bumper. But we are going to stick with Tom George's six-year-old, despite a penalty, as he kept finding more when challenged at Newcastle and should continue on an upward curve. Jonjo O'Neill runs In The Rough and Master Malt with McCoy riding the former, a staying-on third at Towcester in December and open to improvement. Rhapando will have learned plenty from his fourth at Sandown and Spiculas hinted at ability at Southwell in November. They also catch the eye in a potentially-informative opener.
Stellar Notion (IRE) 10-11fav (11-5) Took keen hold early, led 2nd, slipped slightly before 4th, shaken up to assert flat, easily, won at Newcastle 2m nov hdl (4) hvy in Jan beating Another Mattie (11-5) by 3 1/2l, 5 ran.
Back By Midnight 100-1 (10-13) Prominent on outside, took keen hold, not fluent 4th, ridden after 6th, 7th and weakening when blundered and unseated rider 2 out, in a race won by Arthur's Oak (11-4) at Exeter 2m 3f nov hdl (4) hvy, 14 ran.
Devil At Midnight (IRE) 200-1 (10-7) Held up towards rear, pushed along before 4 out, soon weakened, 13th of 14, well behind First Mohican (10-12) at Doncaster 2m nov hdl (4) gs.
In The Rough (IRE) 6-1 (11-0) Mid-division, not fluent and lost place 4th, soon behind, struggling 3 out, 8th and plenty to do next, rallied before last, ridden and stayed on flat, went 3rd near finish, never nearer, 3rd of 14, 12l behind Call The Cops (11-0) at Towcester 2m mdn hdl (5) sft in Dec.
Master Dee (IRE) 4-7fav (11-6) Made all, hard driven over 2f out, ran on well, won at Sedgefield 2m 1f mdn NH flat (6) hvy in Jan beating Duncomplaining (11-6) by 4l, 8 ran.
Master Malt 12-1 (11-4) Held up mid-division, headway before 3f out, weakened over 2f out, 9th of 19, 16l behind Killyglass (11-4) at Aintree 2m 1f nat hunt flat Grade 2 (1) gs in Apr.
Master Wickham (IRE) 8-1 (11-2) Tracked leaders, ridden over 2f out, soon weakened, 7th of 11, 27l behind Bobble Boru (10-9) at Ludlow 1m 6f mdn NH flat (5) gs in Nov.
Morning Reggie 33-1 (10-12) Held up in last trio, headway to chase leaders 4th, pushed along approaching 2 out, weakened soon after 2 out, 5th of 9, 20l behind Vaniteux (10-12) at Sandown 2m nov hdl (3) gs in Dec.
Rhapando 16-1 (10-12) Pressed leader, led approaching 2 out, headed soon after 2 out, weakened between last 2, 4th of 9, 18l behind Vaniteux (10-12) at Sandown 2m nov hdl (3) gs in Dec.
Spiculas (IRE) 16-1 (10-12) Took keen hold and held up in last pair, steady headway after 3 out, chasing leaders when blundered 2 out, went 3rd before last, kept on flat, 3rd of 8, 11l behind John Reel (10-12) at Southwell 2m nov hdl (4) sft in Nov.
Un Ace (FR) 50-1 (11-4) Held up towards rear, some headway before 2f out, never dangerous, 12th of 19, 20l behind Killyglass (11-4) at Aintree 2m 1f nat hunt flat Grade 2 (1) gs in Apr.
