in rear, headway to go 3rd before 4 out, soon ridden and one pace
towards rear, reminders fter 7th, soon outpaced, plugged on from 3 out, never dangerous
made all, clear before 4 out, stayed on strongly
held up towards rear, weakened from 5 out
held up in touch, chased winner from 5 out, no impression with winner from 4 out
tracked winner early, mistake 2nd, weakened from 7th, tailed off when pulled before 4 out
tracked leaders, went 2nd before 5th until 5 out, weakened before next, pulled up before 3 out
held up towards rear, reminders before 9th, weakened before 3 out
There aren't many prolific winners among this lot. Amuse Me appears to have lost the plot but Olympian Boy is slowly coming down the weights, though was behind Coolbeg at Sandown in March. The latter was third over a longer trip here 12 days ago and has to be thereabouts but RIDDLEOFTHESANDS is suited by the mud and, though he's shown little lately, is now 2lb lower than winning in this grade at Ludlow in February. We'll gamble on a return to form as he has more ability than Maizy Missile and the others.
Olympian Boy (IRE) 7-1 (11-8) In rear, pushed along and outpaced 7th, headway after 2 out, went 3rd from last, kept on and no impression, 3rd of 8, 11l behind Got Attitude (11-3) at Stratford 2m 1f hcp ch 0-110 (4) gf in Jun.
Amuse Me 17-2 (11-12) In rear, pushed along 6th, weakened from 5 out, 5th of 6, 34l behind Try Catch Me (11-11) at Fontwell 2m 2f hcp chs 0-105 (4) gs in Oct.
Riddleofthesands (IRE) 7-1 (11-12) Held up, not always fluent, reminder after 12th, soon beaten, 4th of 5, 21l behind Gorteenwood (11-4) at Newton Abbot 2m 5f hcp 0-100 (5) gd in Sep.
Coolbeg (IRE) 11-4 (11-2) Raced wide, chased leading pair, not fluent 6th, 2nd approaching 2 out, driven and every chance when mistake last, driven in 3rd and one pace flat, 3rd of 6, 7l behind Humbel Ben (11-0) at Ffos Las 2m 3f hcp chs 0-110 (4) gs in Oct.
Lamb's Cross 66-1 (11-2) Tracked leaders, led before 7th, ridden and headed after hurdle, weakened quickly and pulled up before 3 out, in a race won by Jazz Man (11-8) at Uttoxeter 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-100 (5) gd in Jun, 17 ran.
Maizy Missile (IRE) 12-1 (11-0) Tracked leaders in 3rd, pushed along and outpaced before 4 out, kept on to chase winner from last, no impression, 2nd of 6, 15l behind Ballycool (11-7) at Uttoxeter 2m hcp 0-100 (5) gd in Sep.
Kims Firebud 25-1 (10-1) Tended to jump right, took keen hold, stumbled 1st, tracked leaders, led after 4th until 9th, chased leaders, blundered badly and headed 7th, soon pulled up, in a race won by Trillerin Minella (11-7) at Ffos Las 2m 5f nov hcp chs 0-105 (4) gs in Oct, 7 ran.
Kingspark Boy (IRE) 10-1 (9-7) Took keen hold, chased leaders, weakened quickly soon after 4 out, 5th of 7, well behind Kapricorne (10-7) at Ffos Las 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-100 (5) gs in Oct.
