held up in rear, headway 15th, weakened 4 out, tailed off when pulled up before last
led to 2nd, remained prominent, led 17th, drew clear from 2 out
mid-division, mistake 9th, soon dropped rear, never dangerous after
in touch, headway to lead 12th to 15th, ridden 4 out, weakened after next
in touch, close up when blundered and unseated rider 15th
chased leaders, pushed along 16th, ridden and outpaced 4 out, rallied after 2 out, stayed on to go remote 2nd flat
mid-division, dropped to rear 8th, tailed off when pulled up before 16th
towards rear, pushed along 4 out, ridden and one pace from next
fell 1st
led 2nd to 12th, led again 15th until mistake and headed 17th, one pace from 3 out
towards rear, never dangerous
Not the strongest of handicap chases and one that can go to Ryminster, with Cash Bonanza, Lucky Nellerie and Go Nomadic also considered. The selection beat go Nomadic by four lengths here last time and although he is 3lb worse off than in that 3m 1f contest, he looks capable of defying that. Generally a good jumper, he stays well and loves it bottomless, and he can build on that success with the addition of first time cheek pieces. Go Nomadic will clearly be a threat but at 13 he is not going to find much improvement and we are happy to pass him up. Lucky Nellerie will be popular with punters judged on his marathon Sedgefield win last month but he did not cover himself in glory last time out, while Cash Bonanza may give the selection most to do. Nicky Richards does well here and this potential improver went well last time out and with some confidence we could see more from him here so he is not overlooked lightly. But Ryminster has plenty in his favour and gets the nod.
Cash Bonanza (IRE) 8-1 (11-9) Chased leaders, led 3 out, headed after last, one pace, 2nd of 10, 4l behind Fearless Foursome (10-5) at Ayr 2m 5f nov hcp chs 0-105 (4) hvy in Dec.
Lucky Nellerie (FR) 5-4fav (10-10) Led to 14th, soon driven along, left poor 2nd 4 out, stayed on, 2nd of 8, 8l behind Getinbybutonlyjust (11-9) at Ayr 3m 1f nov hcp chs 0-110 (4) hvy.
Black Smoke (IRE) 15-2 (9-7) In touch, weakened 10th, beaten when pulled up 3 out in race won by Kerry Lads (11-12) at Wetherby 3m 1f hcp chs 0-130 (3) hvy, 5 ran.
Iron Warrior (IRE) 7-1 (11-12) Led to 8th, weakened 5 out, 5th of 7, 38l behind Iloveturtle (9-7) at Market Rasen 3m 1f nov hcp chs 0-105 (4) sft in Dec.
Behavingbadly (IRE) 10-1 (9-9) In touch when blundered and unseated rider at the 7th in race won by Classic Capers (11-5) at Catterick 3m 1f hcp chs 0-120 (3) gs in Dec, 10 ran.
Go Nomadic 10-1 (11-8) Tracked leaders, carried wide after 13th, outpaced 3 out, kept on again flat, 2nd of 8, 4l behind Ryminster (11-3) at Kelso 3m 1f hcp chs 0-88 (5) hvy.
Recent Edition (IRE) 7-1 (11-5) Chased leaders, reminders 10th, outpaced 14th, soon beaten, 6th of 10, 34l behind Matmata de Tendron (10-11) at Sedgefield 3m 3f hcp chs 0-95 (5) sft in Dec.
Fleetfoot Mac 16-1 (11-4) Tracked winner until ridden and weakened approaching 4 out, 5th of 12, 24l behind Woodstock Lass (10-5) at Musselburgh 3m cnd hcp chs (5) gs.
Ryminster 7-2 (11-3) Rear, hampered 13th, left in lead 14th, headed before last, led again run-in, won at Kelso 3m 1f hcp chs 0-88 (5) hvy beating Go Nomadic (11-8) by 4l, 8 ran.
Celtic Flow 8-1 (10-13) In touch, lost place 8th, soon struggling, behind when pulled up at the 14th in race won by Jballingall (9-13) at Sedgefield 3m 3f hcp chs 0-95 (5) gs in Nov, 15 ran.
Innisfree (IRE) 9-2 (10-12) Tracked leaders, ridden and weakening when hit 4 out, 7th of 9, well behind Lethem Present (9-12) at Musselburgh 3m amt hcp chs 0-95 (5) gd in Dec.
Moon Mist 7-2 (10-9) Tracked leader, left in lead 13th and fell at the 14th in race won by Ryminster (11-3) at Kelso 3m 1f hcp chs 0-88 (5) hvy, 8 ran.
