always behind, jumped slowly 7th, tailed off
held up in rear, reminders and good headway chasing leaders after 4 out, 4th and held when blundered 2 out, blundered again last
held up in 5th, good headway chasing leaders in 3rd at 9th, blundered 4 out, soon weakened, towards rear when mistake 3 out, fell 2 out
held up off the pace in 6th, smooth headway 12th, 3rd 4 out, led 2 out, soon clear, easily
led until 6th, pressed leader, every chance 2 out, soon outpaced, went 2nd towards finish, no chance with winner
chased leaders, outpaced and lost place 12th, modest 5th approaching 2 out, plugged on run-un
chased leading pair until 9th, weakened before 4 out, tailed off
held up towards rear, last and struggling 12th, never involved
pressed leader, led 6th, mistake 11th, ridden and headed 2 out, soon outpaced, lost 2nd towards finish
A modest affair in which PADDLING is no more than a tentative selection given he has shown some improvement for the switch to fences. Betancourt won over hurdles in October but showed little tackling the larger obstacles for the first time at Kelso. Amuse Me last won over fences in 2015 but it was off today’s mark and Jimmy Moffatt’s enigmatic grey would go close if in the mood. Winning pointer Cup Of Ambition is probably better than he showed at Leicester and still has some scope.
Amuse Me 50-1 (10-12) Towards rear, pushed along before 4 out, soon weakened, 6th of 9, 31 1/2l behind Forest Des Aigles (11-12) at Carlisle 2m 4f hcp (2) sft in Dec.
Betancourt (IRE) 5-1 (11-12) Mid-division, lost place and behind from 4th, no danger after, tailed off 4 out, 9th of 10, dist behind Oak Vintage (10-5) at Kelso 2m 1f hcp (4) gd in Nov.
Cup Of Ambition (IRE) 10-1 (11-12) Led to 3rd, tracked leader, led again 13th, mistake 4 out, headed 2 out, weakened after last, 5th of 7, 30 1/4l behind Dontminddboys (11-7) at Leicester 2m 7f hcp (4) gd in Dec.
Paddling (FR) 10-1 (10-1) Always towards rear, tailed off 4 out, 3rd of 9, 7 1/2l behind Bollin Line (10-5) at Catterick 2m hcp (4) gs in Dec.
Frankie Ballou (IRE) 20-1 (11-1) In touch, pushed along before 2 out, weakened before last, 10th of 13, dist behind Oskar Denarius (10-5) at Catterick 2m 3f hcp (5) gs in Dec.
Mr Witmore (IRE) 28-1 (10-0) Chased leaders, blundered and rider lost iron 8th, rallied into 4th 2 out, 3rd before last, one pace, 3rd of 7, 9l behind Celtic Flames (10-10) at Hexham 2m hcp (4) hvy in Nov.
Under The Red Sky (IRE) 6-1 (10-1) With leader, left in lead after 1st, headed after 2nd, led again 3rd, headed 11th, 4th of 8, dist behind Knocknamona (10-4) at Uttoxeter 2m 4f hcp (4) hvy in Nov.
Lost In Newyork (IRE) 33-1 (10-0) Always behind, 7th of 8, 14 3/4l behind Cougar Kid (11-12) at Leicester 2m hcp (5) sft in Dec.
Reverse The Charge (IRE) 12-1 (10-0) In touch on outer, disputed lead after 6th, lost place before 3 out, soon weakened, tailed off when pulled up before last, at Hexham 2m hcp (5) gd in Jun.
