held up in rear, not fluent 3rd, ridden 3 out, stayed on approaching last, never on terms
held up rear of mid-division, pushed along and some headway after 3 out, no impression and pecked 2 out
led, wandered into some of the hurdles, 2 1/2 lengths clear last, edged left flat, headed towards finish
raced keenly, mid-division, headway after 6th, 3rd before 2 out, no extra and fading from last
tracked leaders, ridden and stayed on same pace approaching 2 out, no impression on front pair
tracked leaders, not fluent 4th, lost place 4 out, no impression after
chased leader, 2 1/2 lengths down last, closed and switched left flat, stayed on well, led towards finish
in rear, pushed along after 5th, headway after 3 out, weakened 2 out
mid-division, lost place before 4th, stayed on from 2 out, went 4th last, not trouble leaders
NonRunner
NORTHERN POET has been keeping on in his two hurdles races so far so a further step up in trip should suit. Ask Henry has been in decent form over the summer and the easier ground should aid his cause. College Oak made a winning reappearance at Uttoxeter but was only fifth on his handicap debut at Newton Abbot when he possibly didn’t stay an extended 2m5f. Electron Bleu was knocking on the door last season and Sometimes Always is another who could figure if fully wound-up. Le Grand Fromage makes most appeal of the remainder as Pianissimo looks high enough in the weights for what he’s achieved.
Ask Henry (IRE) 10-3 (11-4) Chased leaders on inside, weakened after 2 out, 4th of 8, 8l behind Noble Behest (10-12) at Newton Abbot 2m 6f (4) gd in Sep.
Pianissimo 25-1 (11-0) Mid-division, ridden and headway prior to 2 out, weakened after last, 3rd of 11, 8l behind Cormier (11-0) at Uttoxeter 2m mdn (4) gs in Oct.
Sometimes Always (IRE) 6-1 (10-12) Raced keenly, chased leaders, hit 3 out, weakened between last 2, 4th of 11, 16 3/4l behind One Touch (10-12) at Doncaster 2m 3f (4) gs in Dec.
Xcitations 9-2 (11-7) Held up towards rear, headway chasing leaders approaching 2 out, went 2nd between last 2, kept on same pace, no chance with winner, 2nd of 13, 14l behind Carys' Commodity (11-12) at Fakenham 2m 4f hcp (4) gd in Oct.
Le Grand Fromage 11-2 (11-2) Prominent, ridden and lost ground after 3 out, took modest 3rd last, plugged on, 3rd of 8, 14 3/4l behind Twin Star (11-0) at Bangor-on-Dee 2m 1f hcp (4) sft in Sep.
No No Maestro (IRE) 20-1 (11-5) Raced wide in mid-division, weakened before 3 out, behind when blundered last, 8th of 13, 28 1/4l behind Full Back (11-5) at Fontwell 2m 3f mdn (4) sft in Jan.
College Oak 6-1 (11-12) Midfield, stumbled 1st, took closer order after 3 out, ridden to challenge before 2 out, weakened gradually from 2 out, 5th of 13, 15 3/4l behind Francky Du Berlais (11-13) at Newton Abbot 2m 6f hcp (4) gd in Sep.
Northern Poet (IRE) 3-1 (10-12) Restrained in midfield, not fluent 4 out, ridden to chase leaders 3 out, kept on without troubling front two after the last, 3rd of 10, 1 3/4l behind Sei Bella (10-5) at Exeter 2m 3f (4) gf in Oct.
Towards The Dawn 20-1 (11-3) Prominent until not fluent and weakened 3 out, no chance when fell last, at Doncaster 2m 3f (4) sft in Feb.
Electron Bleu (FR) 11-2 (11-8) Held up, headway before 6th, challenged 2 out, carried left last, led briefly, no impression on winner, stayed on same pace, 2nd of 6, 4 3/4l behind Exod'ela (11-5) at Ludlow 2m 5f hcp (3) sft in Feb.
Calvinist 9-1 (9-10) Soon prominent, led over 10f out, headed over 9f out, lost place over 4f out, 12th of 13, dist behind Pax Britannica (9-1) at Chelmsford City 1m 6f hcp (6) pol in Oct.
