held up in touch, took closer order 5th, soon chasing leaders, went 2nd 4 out, led next, challenged when mistake last, held on well
held up in rear, headway 4 out, driven to challenge next, jumped left 2 out, weakened approaching last
keen in touch, headway into 3rd 4 out, not fluent 2 out, ridden to challenge last, kept on under pressure
tracked leaders, led before 4 out, headed next, soon lost place, tailed off from 2 out, moderate 4th
led until 2nd, remained prominent, lost place before 5th, soon behind, tailed off 3 out
keen, tracked leaders, led 2nd, headed before 4 out, weakened quickly, pulled up before next
Informateur has been well beaten since winning at Sedgefield and this looks between the other two penalised contenders. Dual bumper winner I'm To Blame scored at the same meeting at Sedgefield on his hurdling debut and looks sure to make another bold bid, despite the longer trip, but BUSTER VALENTINE may just edge this. The latter won a point-to-point before joining Ruth Jefferson and making a winning start over timber in testing going at Ayr so is taken to remain unbeaten. The remaining trio have no form worthy of a mention and look up against it barring accidents to the principals.
Buster Valentine (IRE) 11-8fav (11-8) Tracked leaders, led 2 out, soon hard pressed, ridden flat, kept on well towards finish, won at Ayr 2m mdn (5) hvy in Nov beating Mistermoonboy (11-8) by 3 3/4l, 11 ran.
I'm To Blame (IRE) 2-5fav (11-5) Led after 1st, jumped left throughout, hung badly left when blundered 2 out, drew clear last, easily, won at Sedgefield 2m 1f mdn (5) gd in Nov beating Dark Ruler (11-5) by 14l, 5 ran.
Informateur (FR) 8-1 (11-3) Tracked leader, not fluent 8th, effort 3 out, weakened before last, 5th of 6, 7 1/2l behind Ask Ben (10-12) at Newcastle 2m 6f (2) sft in Dec.
Smart Paco 200-1 (11-0) In touch in rear, stumbled on landing 2nd, outpaced and jumped slow 4th, struggling from 4 out, tailed off, last of 5, dist behind Kensukes Kingdom (11-0) at Musselburgh 2m (4) gd in Dec.
Start Seven 150-1 (10-12) Mid-division, hit 4th, blundered 4 out and again next, soon behind, continued tailed off, 12th of 13, dist behind Je Suis Charlie (11-4) at Catterick 2m (4) gd in Nov.
Taking Aim (IRE) 200-1 (10-12) Keen early, held up behind, lost touch 4 out, tailed off when pulled up after next, at Sedgefield 2m 5f mdn (4) gd in Nov.
