made virtually all, jumped right, not fluent 2nd, clear flat, ran on well
held up in rear, pulled hard, not fluent 3rd or 4 out, went 3rd 3 out, jumped right 2 out, soon shaken up and beaten, no extra from last
held up, closed from 4th, chased winner after 4 out, shaken up from 2 out, hung left before last, no impression flat
pressed winner, led 5th, soon headed, weakened before 2 out
NABUCCO could be a very smart recruit to hurdling and is fancied to shrug off an absence on his first start for John Ferguson. He won a couple of Listed races at Newmarket for John Gosden on the Flat and was also fourth in a Group 3 at Deauville. Cardinal Palace was last seen over hurdles finishing fourth in a Grade 1 at Punchestown. He'll appreciate this easier task and finished second to Wicklow Brave on the Flat just 12 days ago. Dare To Achieve won a Listed handicap on the level at Hamilton just over a year ago and is another interesting recruit - he may have more speed than Sedgefield bumper runner-up Episode.
Cardinal Palace (IRE) 66-1 (11-12) In rear, tended to jump slightly right, not fluent 3 out and next, no impression, 4th from before last, 4th of 6, 24l behind Douvan (11-12) at Punchestown 2m nov hdl G2 (1) in Apr.
Dare To Achieve 15-8fav (10-0) Led after 1f, clear 10f out, increased lead 5f out, ridden and headed over 1f out, weakened final furlong, last of 6, 13l behind Semeen (9-7) at Yarmouth 1m 6f hcp (2) gd in Sep (flat).
Nabucco 9-2 (9-5) Close up, switched to centre to race alone 9f out, led 3f out, ridden 2f out, edged right and headed inside final furlong, rallied to lead final strides, won at Newmarket 1m 4f Listed stks (1) gd in Sep beating Red Galileo (8-11) by shd, 6 ran (flat).
Episode 9-2 (10-9) Tracked leaders, led over 5f out, hard ridden when headed entering final furlong, kept on under pressure, 2nd of 8, 1 3/4l behind Petapenko (10-12) at Sedgefield 2m 1f NH flat (6) gf in Apr.
Sturdy Dawn 200-1 (10-2) Led until 5th, not fluent 3 out, soon weakened, 5th of 7, well behind Improvisation (10-12) at Huntingdon 2m nh nov hdl (4) gf in May.
Sunny Bank 100-1 (11-2) Close up, tracked leaders 3rd, led soon after 3 out, hit next and headed, weakened last, 3rd of 8, 27l behind Mountain Fighter (10-12) at Fakenham 2m mdn hdl (4) gd in May.
