held up towards rear, headway 4 out, went 3rd before 2 out, one pace
tracked leader, ridden before 3 out, soon weakened
made all, pressed from 2 out, clear before last, kept on strongly
tracked leaders, every 2 out, kept on and well held before last
held up in touch, ridden after 4 out, soon outpaced, plugged on from next, never dangerous
in rear, headway before 3 out, weakened before 2 out
Holdbacktheriver gave the impression a step up in trip would suit when third at Chepstow. Ilovemints was last of three and beaten when falling at Uttoxeter and Tom Scudamore prefers the once-raced I’M ALWAYS TRYING, who has an excellent pedigree for jumping and will have learned plenty from his run in a bumper here last month. Fairmount showed promise in bumpers but weakened quickly on his hurdles debut at Lingfield.
Atomic Rumble (IRE) 33-1 (10-12) In touch, ridden and headway 4 out, ridden and weakened next, 7th of 12, dist behind Uppertown Prince (10-12) at Bangor 2m 4f (4) sft in Dec.
Buck Bravo (IRE) 66-1 (11-0) In touch, hit 5th, ridden and weakened 3 out, tailed off, 6th of 10, dist behind Noble Robin (11-0) at Ffos Las 2m 4f mdn (4) hvy in Nov.
Fairmount 10-1 (10-12) Mid-division, headway chasing leaders 3 out, ridden and one pace before next, 6th of 16, 22l behind First Flow (10-12) at Lingfield 2m (4) sft in Nov.
Holdbacktheriver (IRE) 7-1 (10-12) Mid-division, headway after 4th, chased leaders 4 out, outpaced next, went 3rd after 2 out, kept on, never troubled front pair, 3rd of 13, 14l behind Marley Firth (10-12) at Chepstow 2m (4) hvy in Nov.
I'm Always Trying (IRE) 9-1 (10-12) Chased clear leader, ridden halfway, weakened over 4f out, 5th of 8, 15 3/4l behind Luckofthedraw (10-12) at Ffos Las 2m (5) hvy in Nov.
Ilovemints 4-1 (10-10) Led, headed before 3 out, ridden before and well held in 3rd place when fell 2 out, at Uttoxeter 2m (4) hvy in Nov.
