chased leaders, closing when stumbled and lost place 3 out, ridden along in 4th and outpaced after, left in 2 lengths 2nd place last, edged left to near side rail run-in, stayed on to lead near finish
led until after 1st, chased leader who went clear after next, hit 4 out, pushed along and lost 2nd before 2 out, no impression in 3rd, left in 2 lengths lead last, ridden and edged right run-in, headed and no extra near finish
took keen hold, held up last, not fluent 4th, headway into 3rd 3 out, led 2 out, 1 length ahead when fell last
chased leaders, ridden and weakened 3 out, soon lost touch, pulled up before next
keen in last pair, weakened 3 out, left remote 3rd last
pulled hard, led after 1st, blundered next and soon clear, went left 3rd and next, reduced lead 4 out, headed 2 out, chased leader, 1 length down and keeping on when brought down last
Alan King looks to have a strong team of juvenile hurdlers this season and NAYATI clearly knew his job when justifying strong market support on his debut at Newbury. Fourth-placed Special Relation looks to have little chance of reversing the form and a double looks on the cards. Oistrakh Le Noir won in the French Provinces in September and new connections paid 120,000 euros to bring him across the English Channel but he’ll need to be smart to beat the selection off level weights. Newcomer Et Moi Alors may be best of the rest with his yard in good form as he’s a half-brother to two winning jumpers, though only changed hands for 14,000 euros.
Nayati (FR) 10-11fav (10-12) In touch, headway tracking leaders 3rd, 2nd on outside edging left between last 2, ridden to lead run-in, driven out, won at Newbury 2m (3) hvy in Dec beating Kapdad (10-12) by 2 1/4l, 7 ran.
Oistrakh Le Noir (FR) (10-7) won at Cholet 2m 1f gd in Sep beating Cat Tiger (10-7) by 8l, 8 ran.
Et Moi Alors (FR) Kap Rock gelding out of Qui L'eut Cru.
Leoro (IRE) 16-1 (10-12) Chased leaders until after 1st, chased leaders, pushed along and weakened before 3 out, behind when blundered next, 10th of 12, dist behind Style De Garde (11-4) at Newbury 2m (4) sft in Dec.
Special Relation (IRE) 11-2 (10-12) Held up in rear, gained a place 4th, headway approaching 2 out, modest 4th after 2 out, 4th of 7, 18l behind Nayati (10-12) at Newbury 2m (3) hvy in Dec.
Harmonise 14-1 (8-8) Held up in rear, headway on outside over 1f out, kept on same pace inside furlong, never going pace to threaten, 7th of 13, 9 3/4l behind Precious Ramotswe (9-2) at Newbury 1m 2f hcp fll (4) sft in Oct.
