led, blundered and headed 8th, soon lost place, mistake 9th, pulled up
towards rear, mistake 7th, headway to chase leaders before 6 out, weakened before and mistake 2 out
tracked leaders, mistake 6th, soon lost place into mid-division, pushed along and hit 10th, rallied to 3rd before 2 out, no impression
held up in touch, chased winner before 4 out, weakened before 2 out
held up towards rear, headway before 6 out, ridden before 2 out, weakened before last
mid-division, left in lead from 8th, clear before last, kept on strongly
tracked leaders, chased winer before 2 out, one pace and no impression
towards rear, outpaced before 4 out, kept on after 2 out, blundered last, one pace
in rear and mistakes, detached before 6 out, pulled up before 2 out
Piraya is back on a winning mark but has shown his best form with some give in the ground. Rougham won over C&D in January and was far from disgraced when third on his reappearance at Sandown, but BALZACCIO and Restezen D'Armor are both chasing hat-tricks and the former can come out on top again today. He hardly came off the bridle when scoring by 17 lengths at Huntingdon last month and may be better handicapped than Charlie Longsdon's Bangor and Worcester winner. Quito Du Tresor is better over shorter and Court In Session may need more time while Gee Dee Nen has finished tailed off in both starts so far this season.
Rougham 12-1 (11-10) Tended to jump right, pressed leader at good pace, led approaching 4th, steadied after 6th, headed and dropped to 3rd 9th, rallied to 3rd on inside when blundered 3 out, disputing well held 2nd when blundered last, one pace in 3rd flat, 3rd of 9, 8l behind Roudoudou Ville (11-12) at Sandown 2m 4f hcp chs 0-140 (3) gs.
Balzaccio (FR) 2-1 (11-10) Held up behind, close up 10th, went 2nd 13th, led going well before 2 out, clear last, very easily, won at Huntingdon 2m 4f nov chs (4) gd in Oct beating Playing With Fire (11-3) by 17l, 7 ran.
Piraya (FR) 4-1 (11-7) Held up in touch, headway on outer before 8th, quickly weakened 3 out, last of 6, 44l behind King Of Dubai (11-0) at Uttoxeter 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-130 (3) gf in Apr.
Court In Session (IRE) 11-2 (11-2) Led narrowly and clear with one other, headed 5th, led again 7th, hit and headed 3 out, weakened next, 4th of 7, 49l behind Al Ferof (11-2) at Cheltenham 2m nov chs Grade 2 (1) gs.
Restezen D'armor (FR) 6-4fav (11-4) Held up, went 3rd 6th, went 2nd 8th, led after 11th, clear 2 out, easily, won at Worcester 2m 4f hcp chs 0-130 (3) gd in Oct beating Quel Bruere (9-13) by 15l, 5 ran.
Quito Du Tresor (FR) 4-1 (10-11) Prominent, hit 4th, mistake next, hit 8th, soon lost place, 6th of 8, 43l behind Takeroc (10-9) at Aintree 2m hcp chs 0-145 (2) gd in Oct.
Politeo (FR) 12-1 (10-12) Chased leaders early, soon lost place and struggling, ridden in last 7 out, soon no extra, last of 14, well behind Future All Star (10-7) at Kilbeggan 2m 6f hcp chs gd in Jul.
Gee Dee Nen 25-1 (11-10) Soon well adrift of leading duo, never on terms, tailed off, last of 3, well behind Somersby (11-10) at Kempton 2m 4f grad ch (2) gd in Oct.
Mr Crystal (FR) 25-1 (10-0) Behind, not on terms and struggling 5 out, stayed on from 3 out, left 4th next, kept on flat, 4th of 11, 9l behind Fistral Beach (11-5) at Wetherby 2m 4f listed hcp chs (1) gd in Oct.