ASO wasn't disgraced under a penalty at Sandown after winning easily at Warwick and can give the weight away to Relic Rock. Brian Ellison's charge was a smart bumper but will need to do better over hurdles than when beaten by the exposed Glingerburn when odds-on at Doncaster. Simply The West won easily at Bangor last month and may be improving but Dare To Endeavour is having a confidence-booster after losing his way over fences and Horsehill will do better over the larger obstacles in time.
Aso (FR) 5-2 (11-4) Led and set decent pace, not fluent 2 out, driven between last two, headed before last, dropped to 3rd last, kept on same pace run-in, 3rd of 10, 4l behind Caracci Apache (10-12) at Sandown 2m nov hdl (3) sft.
Simply The West (IRE) 11-8fav (10-12) Prominent, led 2 out, clear last, comfortable, won at Bangor 2m 4f nh nov hdl (4) sft in Nov beating Winter Walk (10-12) by 13l, 5 ran.
Dare To Endeavour 8-1 (11-1) Not fluent, chased leader until 7th, chased leading pair, mistake 12th, pushed along and outpaced when hit 4 out, weakened into 4th before next, finished tired, tailed off, blundered last, last of 4, well behind Black Thunder (11-11) at Sandown 3m lst chs (1) sft.
Horsehill (IRE) 5-2 (10-12) Held up, closed 3rd, jumped slowly 8th, pressing leaders before 3 out, soon switched right, edged right before 2 out, close 3rd when mistake last, one pace and no impression flat, 4th of 12, 4 1/2l behind Ewings (10-12) at Ludlow 2m 5f NH nov hdl 4-6yo (4) gs in Nov.
Just Skittles 33-1 (11-0) Held up in rear, reminders before 7f out, tailed off, last of 7, well behind Robinsson (11-0) at Southwell 2m NH flat (6) gs.
Nervous Nineties 20-1 (10-11) Held up behind, outpaced 3 out, soon weakened, tailed off, last of 6, well behind Upsanddowns (10-8) at Newton Abbot 2m 1f cond mdn hdle (5) gd in Sep.
Periquest 80-1 (10-12) In touch, chased winner 5th, driven and lost place after 3 out, weakened from next, 4th of 11, 25l behind Andi'amu (10-12) at Market Rasen 2m 3f mdn hdl (4) sft in Nov.
Relic Rock (IRE) 10-11fav (10-12) In touch, led before 3 out, hard pressed between last 2, headed last, ridden and one pace flat, 2nd of 18, 2 1/4l behind Glingerburn (10-12) at Doncaster 2m nh nov hdl (4) gs in Nov.
Shantou River (IRE) 66-1 (11-0) Mid-division, struggling from 7th, 11th of 17, well behind Kylemore Lough (11-0) at Warwick 2m 5f mdn hdl (4) sft.
Smartmax (FR) 100-1 (10-12) Towards rear, tailed off and pulled up before 2 out, in a race won by Aqalim (10-12) at Huntingdon 2m nh nov hdl (4) sft, 15 ran.
Smart Music 100-1 (10-12) Led, headed before 5th, reminder after 7th, weakened after 8th, pulled up after 4 out, in a race won by Zeroeshadesofgrey (11-5) at Uttoxeter 3m nh nov hdl (4) hvy in Nov, 5 ran.
Summer Sounds (IRE) 10-1 (11-4) Chased leaders, plugged on final 2f, went 4th in closing stages, 4th of 11, 10l behind Third Act (11-4) at Kempton 2m NH flat (5) hvy in Feb.
Thelordbewithyou (IRE) 150-1 (10-7) In rear, weakened 8th, detached when pulled up 2 out, in a race won by Broadway Buffalo (11-12) at Plumpton 2m 5f nov hdl (4) sft in Mar '13, 6 ran.
