in touch, struggling 16th, soon weakened, behind when pulled up 3 out
held up, headway 4 out, chased winner next, kept on same pace
in touch, lost place before 9th, struggling 11th, behind when pulled up 3 out
held up, mistake 2nd, reminders 5th, struggling 8th, soon behind and pulled up 10th
prominent, joined leader 11th, every chance 4 out, under pressure next, weakened quickly, pulled up 2 out
led until 15th, weakened quickly, behind when pulled up 3 out
tracked leaders, led 5 out, ridden 2 out, stayed on well
towards rear, some headway 3 out, soon no impression
held up, ridden and effort 4 out, pulled up after 3 out
held up mid-division, ridden and headway 4 out, weakened before 2 out
held up, steady headway from 15th, chased leaders after 3 out, soon one pace
In an interesting novice event, Martin Ossie gets the call over Party Games and Supreme Tadgh. Unbeaten in his last eight races, seven of them in the pointing fields, Martin Ossie looked decent when winning a hunter chase over course and distance last time and he is an interesting recruit to Rules. As such he gets the vote. Party Games's form, including when second here over fences over a longer trip in November brings him right into it, while Scotch Corner got back to winning ways at Ludlow last time, and he too is respected. A repeat of his Sandown second to Supreme Tadgh two runs ago would give him a big shout, but Alphabetic is hard to fancy based on his last three runs, while General Grey's spring hurdling form affords him a shout. Kimono Royal has a similar profile, while Lin d'Estruval improved in blinkers last time, but can he repeat the dose? The others are hard to fancy on recent evidence; not so Martin Ossie, who gets our vote.
Alphabetic 7-1 (10-13) Held up, some headway 9th, soon struggling, tailed off when pulled up 3 out in race won by Another Native (10-9) at Haydock 2m 4f nov hcp chs 0-120 (D) sft in Dec, 10 ran.
Denada 15-2 (10-5) Pulled hard, in rear when fell at the 5th in race won by Pass Me A Dime (11-3) at Warwick 2m 4f hcp chs 0-125 (D) sft in Dec, 7 ran.
General Grey (IRE) 14-1 (11-0) Always in rear, struggling 10th, tailed off, 7th of 11, well behind Pass Me A Dime (11-0) at Plumpton 2m 4f beg chs (E) gd in Nov.
I'm For Waiting 25-1 (10-0) Mid-division, lost place 9th, tailed off when pulled up 5 out in race won by Presenting Express (11-0) at Folkestone 2m 5f nov hcp chs 0-95 (F) gd in Nov, 16 ran.
Lin d'Estruval (FR) 50-1 (11-0) Led 2nd, ridden and headed 2 out, kept on same pace, 3rd of 13, 10l behind Lord Olympia (11-0) at Folkestone 3m 1f beg chs (E) gd in Dec.
Martin Ossie 9-4 (12-0) Made all, left clear 3 out, driven out, won at Huntingdon 3m hts chs (H) gf in May beating Coomakista (11-2) by 2l, 10 ran.
Party Games (IRE) 25-1 (10-11) Always behind, ridden from 9th, lost touch from 12th, 8th of 11, 36l behind Ladalko (11-11) at Newbury 3m amt hcp chs 0-125 (E) gd in Nov.
Scotch Corner (IRE) 4-1 (11-4) Prominent when hampered 1st, chased leader from 7th, ridden 4 out, led after 3 out, clear last, won at Ludlow 2m nov chs (E) gd in Dec beating Solar At'Em (11-4) by 9l, 6 ran.
Supreme Tadgh (IRE) 8-1 (11-5) Behind, lost touch 12th pulled up at the 14th in race won by Boundary House (10-6) at Wincanton 3m 1f hcp chs (4) sft, 14 ran.
Woodview (IRE) 7-1 (10-12) Mid-division, headway after 7th, ridden 3 out, weakened 2 out, 3rd of 12, 15l behind Gritti Palace (10-7) at Warwick 3m 1f nov hdl (E) sft in Dec.
Kyno (IRE) 9-2 (10-10) Led, headed 4th, mistake 7th, every chance 2 out, stayed on same pace, 2nd of 9, 2 1/2l behind New Perk (10-5) at Fakenham 2m 5f nov hcp chs 0-100 (E) gd in Dec.
Kimono Royal (FR) 5-1 (11-12) fell at the 1st in race won by Presenting Express (10-13) at Taunton 2m 7f hcp chs 0-105 (E) gd in Dec, 9 ran.
Scarlet Fantasy 33-1 (11-0) Never a danger, 4th of 9, well behind Mighty Matters (11-0) at Towcester 2m 6f nov chs (E) gs in Dec.
