close up, mistake 4th, ridden and weakened 8th, soon behind, slow 10th, soon pulled up
in rear, reminders after 3rd, improved to go remote 3rd at 12th, weakened 3 out
in rear, reminders 8th, kept on from 2nd last to take remote 2nd flat
held up in rear, improved 7th, chased winner 13th, 10 lengths down, weakened 2 out, lost 2nd flat
led 2nd, soon clear, in command from halfway, 20 lengths clear 3 out, jumped left last, unchallenged
in rear, ridden halfway, kept on to go remote 4th 2 out
led 1st, headed next, chased winner after, 6 lengths down when fell 7th
in touch, improved to chase winner 11th until 13th, weakened 3 out
Inishturk is better than he showed when pulled up at Hereford when last seen in December and with Alan King's string in better form now he looks worth another chance in a race where the main threats look to be Jolly Boy and King of Gothland. The last mentioned is back on more suitable ground than at Newbury last time and has claims of his low weight but Kim Bailey's gelding may still be a shade high in the weights at present so looks to be best watched. Moment of Madness deserves to get his head in front following some consistent performances of late but he may be booked for a place at best again, while Gray's Eulogy may need another run or two to put him spot on. Party Games looks to have plenty of weight, while at the other end of the handicap Stormy Skye may be better than he has shown of late. Jolly Boy is in reasonable form and has to be respected but would probably prefer a softer surface and preference is for Inishturk, who is taken to show his last time out form was all wrong.
Party Games (IRE) 9-2 (11-8) Chased leader, led 13th to 17th and briefly approaching 3 out, every chance 2 out, kept on same pace from last, 3rd of 7, 2 1/2l behind Lahinch Lad (9-8) at Wincanton 3m 1f hcp chs 0-120 (3) gf in May.
Jolly Boy (FR) 16-1 (11-12) Mid-division, ridden, in 5th when fell 5 out in race won by Easibrook Jane (9-11) at Chepstow 2m 3f hcp chs 0-115 (4) sft, 12 ran.
Inishturk (IRE) 3-1jt-fav (11-0) In touch, ridden 4 out, weakened next, behind when pulled up 2 out in race won by Before Dark (11-0) at Hereford 3m 2f hcp hdl 0-120 (3) sft in Dec, 15 ran.
Moment of Madness (IRE) 13-2 (10-11) Prominent, struggling from 8th, 6th of 14, 19l behind Milan Deux Mille (11-5) at Catterick 2m 3f hcp chs 0-120 (3) gd.
Fullards 6-1 (10-9) Tracked leader, not fluent 5th, led approaching next, headed 9th, soon beaten and pulled up at the 11th in race won by Parkinson (10-4) at Huntingdon 3m hcp chs 0-125 (3) sft in Jan, 10 ran.
Its Crucial (IRE) 33-1 (11-7) Towards rear, bumped 1st, not fluent 3rd, headway after 4th, lost place after 10th, 10th of 13, 48l behind Art Virginia (11-11) at Ludlow 2m 4f nov hcp chs 0-115 (3) gs in Dec.
King of Gothland (IRE) 6-1 (10-6) Chased leaders until 6th, gradually lost place from 8th, went poor 4th run-in, 4th of 8, 41l behind Flintoff (11-6) at Newbury 3m hcp chs 0-125 (3) hvy in Jan.
Gray's Eulogy 11-2 (11-1) Chased leaders, hard ridden to chase leading trio 3 out, soon weakened, 4th of 7, 17l behind Jimmy Tennis (11-12) at Folkestone 3m 1f hcp chs 0-110 (4) gs in Nov.
Stormy Skye (IRE) 8-1 (10-9) Prominent until blundered badly and dropped to rear 9th, 7th of 11, well behind Black Collar (10-7) at Folkestone 3m 1f hcp chs 0-110 (4) gs in Jan.
Willie John Daly (IRE) 22-1 (10-7) Mid-division, mistake 6th, reminders 11th, weakened 14th, 5th of 11, well behind Pass Me By (10-13) at Plumpton 3m 5f hcp chs 0-130 (3) sft in Jan.
