tracked leader, led and hit 6th, not fluent and headed 7th, 2nd when mistake and unseated rider 10th
led until headed and fell 3rd
held up, badly hampered 3rd, headway 6th, led 7th, jumped right next, not fluent 10th, headed 2 out, soon ridden, still every chance last, no extra final 100 yards
pulled hard, led 3rd to 6th, weakened next, tailed off when pulled up before 10th
held up, headway 6th, left 2nd 10th, challenged 3 out, led narrowly 2 out, kept on well flat
Fundamentalist blotted his copybook when beaten by Vodka Bleu at Newbury last time but has to be the selection here with My Will and See You Sometime rated the biggest dangers. The selection had a successful first season for Nigel Twiston-Davies last term when the highlight was his success in the Royal & SunAlliance Novices' Hurdle and the son of Supreme Leader looked to be at least as good over fences when winning back here in November. Unlucky at Newbury when Carl Llewellyn was out-ridden by Timmy Murphy, he should be too classy for these. My Will has done little wrong since joining Paul Nicholls but is held by Fundamentalist on running here in November and is strictly held by See You Sometime on form at Windsor last time, although the faster surface and pull in the weights should see him in better light today. El Vaquero looks a better chaser than hurdler but this represents his toughest assignment to date, while Tom Nail probably needs to start now to have any chance. Fundamentalist is out of the top drawer and will be tough to beat.
