chased leaders, mistake 2nd, not fluent 4th, lost place 8th, headway and in touch on outer after 4 out, outpaced in 4th when ridden after next, left 3rd 2 out, no impression
tracked leaders, outpaced 5 out, behind from next, tailed off
led, joined after 11th, blundered and headed 4 out, ridden after next, no chance with winner from 2 out
held up, in rear, struggling 5 out, soon lost touch, left moderate 4th from 2 out, tailed off
tracked leader, disputed lead after 11th, led 4 out, driven clear from 2 out, kept on well, comfortably
tracked leaders, not fluent 5 out, driven and one pace in 3rd when fell 2 out
JIMMY THE JETPLANE may just edge this. He had an off-day in better company at Sandown last time but has every chance on these terms. So does Premier Bond, a well beaten runner-up at Doncaster last time but expected to finish closer here, while Final Nudge won a beginners chase at Fakenham in November and is not out of this. Musselburgh winner Jovial Joey has a bit to find at the weights as do the remaining duo, Takingrisks and Hawkhurst, who both made only modest chasing debuts last time.
Final Nudge (IRE) 5-1 (11-12) In rear and in touch, went 3rd from 7 out, kept on same pace, 3rd of 4, 10 1/2l behind Battle Of Shiloh (11-8) at Newcastle 2m 7f hcp (3) sft in Dec.
Jimmy The Jetplane (IRE) 9-1 (11-7) Mid-division, mistake 4th, headway tracking leaders 12th, not fluent 14th, weakening when blundered badly 4 out, tailed off, 9th of 13, dist behind Rocky Creek (11-12) at Sandown 3m 5f hcp (2) gs in Dec.
Jovial Joey (IRE) 9-2 (11-6) Tracked leaders in 3rd, led 5 out, clear before 4 out, kept on well, won at Musselburgh 3m hcp (4) gd in Dec beating So Satisfied (11-8) by 11l, 7 ran.
Hawkhurst (IRE) 25-1 (10-10) In rear, fell 4th, at Carlisle 2m 5f hcp (3) sft in Dec.
Premier Bond 6-1 (11-0) Tracked leading pair, reminders after 7th, outpaced and pushed along next, led modest 3rd and hampered 10th, went 2nd 4 out, no chance with winner, 2nd of 5, 14l behind Might Bite (11-0) at Doncaster 2m 3f (4) gd in Dec.
Takingrisks (IRE) 7-1 (11-2) Tracked leaders, went 3rd from 4 out, kept on same pace, 3rd of 5, 12 1/2l behind Briery Belle (10-9) at Carlisle 2m 4f (3) gd in Nov.
