held up in touch, headway 4th, ridden to chase winner from 2 out, hung left after last, kept on and edged right flat
held up towards rear and keen, weakened 4 out
tracked leaders and keen, dropped rear from 3rd, weakened 4 out, pulled up before 2 out
pulled hard, led 2nd, headed 5th, weakening when fell next
in touch and pulled hard, with leader 3rd, ridden 3 out, weakened next
tracked leader, disputing 2nd when fell 3 out
led to 2nd, led again 5th, jumped left from 4 out, driven out
Poquelin can make a winning debut at the expense of Total Victory, Pouvoir, Marc Of Brilliance and Cartoonist. This looks a decent juvenile novices' hurdle to start proceedings, and a chance is taken with Poquelin who arrived from France with a big reputation, having showed smart form on the Flat, including when beaten a length in a Group 3 at Chantilly. He was schooled over timber as a two-year-old which is pretty early, but that will stand him in good stead here as he bids to open his account en-route to appearing at Newbury's Hennessy meeting. Alan King is reportedly excited by Pouvoir, another French import who won a handicap when trained by Freddie Head. That form puts him behind the selection on the ratings, but he jumps well by all accounts and should make his presence felt. Total Victory was a staying sort on the Flat, and although a very promising third on his Gowran introduction, may find the aforementioned pair too sharp. Gary Moore has a high opinion of his Plumpton winner, the ex-Godolphin inmate Marc Of Brilliance, but he has it to do under a penalty, while Cartoonist is best watched, as a slight knock forced him to miss an intended debut recently. We look to Poquelin as the answer.
Marc of Brilliance (USA) 8-1 (10-12) Held up, smooth headway to track leaders 3 out, challenged last, ran on well to lead towards finish, won at Plumpton 2m 3yo nov hdl (3) gf in Sept beating Dream Witness (10-5) by 1/2l, 14 ran.
Cartoonist (IRE) 25-1 (9-4) Tracked leader, led 9f out, headed over 4f out, ridden and weakened over 2f out, 13th of 15, 44l behind Rahy's Crown (9-7) at Lingfield 1m 4f 3yo hcp (6) pol in Jun (Flat).
Gettysburg (IRE) 8-1 (10-12) Led until ran out at the 4th in race won by European Dream (10-12) at Wetherby 2m 3yo mdn hdl (5) gd, 19 ran.
Hogan's Heroes 7-2fav (9-6) Led, hung right and headed over 2f out, soon ridden, no impression final furlong, 7th of 16, 4 1/2l behind Mister Maq (9-5) at Thirsk 1m 3yo sll hcp (6) gf in Jul (Flat).
Opera Writer (IRE) 11-2 (8-10) Mid-division, ridden over 1f out, no impression, 11th of 13, 8l behind Zendaro (9-9) at W'hampton 1m 1f sll (6) pol in Sept (Flat).
Poquelin (FR) (9-2) Prominent, led briefly over 1f out, stayed on when headed, 2nd of 8, 1l behind Boris De Deauville (9-2) at Chantilly 1m 1f Grp 3 (1) sft in May (Flat).
Pouvoir (FR) (9-3) Missed break, kept on inder pressure, 8th of 18, 4l behind Kilometre Neuf (9-4) at Saint-Cloud 1m 2f hcp gd in May (Flat).
Total Victory (IRE) 5-1 (10-3) Mid-division, progress halfway, close 2nd and challenged after 3 out, led before next, ridden and headed last, no extra when eased close home, 3rd of 20, 3/4l behind Rusty Red (10-7) at Gowran Park 2m 3yo hdl sft.
