led to 10th, with leader, led again next, headed 3 out, one pace next, soon ridden, weakened flat
raced keenly, held up behind, tracked leaders 4 out, led between last 2, not fluent last, soon ridden and hard pressed, stayed on well and in command final 100 yards
tracked leaders, pecked 2nd, driven and effort after 2 out, went 2nd last, soon every chance, ridden no extra final 100 yards
held up in touch, outpaced 3 out, ridden after next, rallied on outside last, went 4th and kept on flat, not pace to reach leaders
in rear, reminder after 3rd, struggling 3 out, never pace to challenge
held up in touch, challenged on outside 3 out, every chance next, one pace between last 2, ridden and no impression with front pair flat
with leader, led narrowly 10th to next, regained lead 3 out, headed between last 2, soon ridden, weakened from last
mid-division, in touch 5th, ridden and one pace after 2 out, no impression before last
BENATAR was highly tried over hurdles after winning his maiden at Fontwell in January. A winning pointer, he's from a yard still in cracking form and could be a nice prospect for chasing. Bagad Bihoue has plenty of experience and was still going well when unseating Bryony Frost at Fakenham last month but he's giving 10lb to stablemate Copain De Classe, the choice of Sam Twiston-Davies despite having a first run over fences. Cobra De Mai has returned from a short break in decent form but Space Oddity may not get his own way out in front. Ballinure is hard to catch right but Duke Street's half-brother Act Of Kalanisi won over fences, though was better over hurdles.
Bagad Bihoue (FR) 5-2 (11-12) Led, still going well when landed awkwardly and unseated rider, at Fakenham 3m (3) gd in Oct.
Benatar (IRE) 33-1 (11-4) Held up towards rear, not always fluent, not much room on inside bend after 5th, closed before 3 out, soon outpaced, 7th last, stayed on flat, went 4th close home, 4th of 13, 8 1/4l behind Finian's Oscar (11-4) at Aintree 2m 4f (1) gd in Apr.
Space Oddity (FR) 7-1 (11-5) Chased winner who went clear 3rd, lost 2nd 9th, 4th and beaten 4 out, 4th of 6, 15l behind Shantou Rock (11-0) at Newton Abbot 2m (3) gd in Oct.
Cobra De Mai (FR) 7-1 (10-2) Held up behind, outpaced 3 out, kept on under pressure before last, never nearer, 5th of 15, 19 1/4l behind Foxtail Hill (10-8) at Cheltenham 2m hcp (2) gd in Oct.
Duke Street (IRE) 33-1 (8-9) Mid-division, driven 4f out, headway under pressure over 1f out, ridden and kept on inside final furlong, not pace to trouble leaders, 8th of 34, 13 1/2l behind Withhold (8-8) at Newmarket 2m 2f hcp (2) gd in Oct.
Copain De Classe (FR) 6-5fav (11-6) Made all, jumped well, drew clear 2 out, ran on well, won at Wincanton 1m 7f (4) gs in Mar beating Azzuri (11-6) by 8l, 8 ran.
Ballinure (IRE) 12-1 (10-0) Mid-division, headway 5th, ridden after 3 out, no impression before next, 9th of 14, 37 3/4l behind Golden Birthday (10-9) at Newton Abbot 2m 6f hcp (2) gd in Sep.
I See You Well (FR) 25-1 (10-4) Always behind, 5th of 6, 35l behind Shantou Rock (11-0) at Newton Abbot 2m (3) gd in Oct.
