tracked leaders out wide, went 2nd approaching 4 out, lost 2nd and weakened before 2 out
made all, 5 lengths ahead 2 out, went further clear between last two, kept on strongly, unchallenged
tracked leaders, pushed along after 3 out, weakened home turn
chased leaders until jumped slowly and lost place and dropped to last pair 3rd, rallied out wide home turn, went 2nd before 2 out, ridden between last two, no chance with winner, mistake last, dropped to 3rd final strides
raced keenly tracking leaders, pushed along approaching 3 out, weakened quickly
held up in rear, headway out wide chasing leaders approaching 3 out, went 3rd briefly home turn, went 3rd again before 2 out, took 2nd final strides, no chance with winner
chased winner until approaching 4 out, weakened quickly, tailed off next
NonRunner
Heritier is upped in class and raised 6lb for winning at Uttoxeter while the return to hurdling is not a problem for recent chase winner Feel The Pinch but testing ground might be. John Betjeman is another who would prefer a faster surface and Chti Balko drops down in trip. Polyphonic and RISK D’ARGENT are both maiden hurdle winners but the latter finished runner-up in a handicap at Warwick on last month’s reappearance and is also preferred to the returning Thunderclap.
Feel The Pinch 3-1 (11-1) Rear of midfield, headway before 4 out, led 2 out, good jump last, pushed out, comfortably, won at Ludlow 2m hcp (3) gs in Nov beating Lime Drop (10-8) by 6l, 6 ran.
Chti Balko (FR) 16-1 (12-0) Led 2nd, ridden and headed soon after 2 out, stayed on one pace, 2nd of 8, 4 1/2l behind Special Rate (12-1) at Sedgefield 2m 4f hcp (4) sft in Nov.
Thunderclap (IRE) 11-4 (11-4) Left tracking leader 1st, led on inside before 2 out, went clear between last two, went left and hit last, eased towards finish, won at Sedgefield 2m 1f mdn (4) hvy in Apr beating Artiste D'ainay (11-4) by 2 1/2l, 8 ran.
Transatlantic (FR) 11-2 (11-11) Rear of midfield, headway after 4 out, chased leaders 3 out, ridden and weakened before last, 9th of 10, dist behind Park Annonciade (11-5) at Ayr 2m hcp (4) gs in Nov.
Polyphonic (IRE) 5-1 (11-2) Towards rear, mistake 3 out and lost position, pushed along on long run to last, kept on and chased leaders jumping final flight, ridden and no impression run-in, 3rd of 5, 5 1/4l behind Grain D'oudairies (11-5) at Uttoxeter 2m hcp (4) hvy in Nov.
Heritier (FR) 7-4jfav (11-9) In rear, in touch, not fluent 1st, closed up behind leaders 2 out, steady headway and led jumping last, hung left and drew away run-in, comfortably, won at Uttoxeter 2m hcp (5) hvy in Nov beating Atreides (12-0) by 6l, 5 ran.
Icarat (FR) 14-1 (11-3) Chased leaders, pushed along before 2 out, no extra and lost third after last, 4th of 9, 13 1/4l behind Knockanore (11-10) at Ffos Las 2m (4) gs in Apr.
John Betjeman 14-1 (12-2) Close up, tracked leaders 4th, ridden 2 out, chased winner flat, 2nd of 13, 2 3/4l behind Tapley (12-0) at Kempton 2m hcp (4) gd in Nov.
Risk D'Argent (FR) 9-2 (11-12) Tracked leaders, ridden to chase winner 2 out, stayed on one pace, 2nd of 17, 3 1/2l behind Tarahumara (12-2) at Warwick 2m hcp (4) sft in Nov.
