mostly tracked leader, mistakes 6th and 10th, lost 2nd 12th, ridden 4 out, 4th and weakening when blundered 2 out
raced wide, held up, headway to chase leaders 3 out, ridden and hit 2 out, weakened between last 2
held up, mistake 4th, ridden 13th, struggling approaching 3 out, finished tired
raced wide throughout, tracked leaders, went 2nd 12th, narrow lead going well 3 out, clear approaching last, eased flat
tracking leaders when blundered and unseated rider 8th
raced on inside throughout, led, blundered 10th, hit 4 out, narrowly headed next, no impression before last
prominent until lost touch and struggling from 10th, tailed off
Too Forward has done very little wrong of late and is selected in preference to Lacdoudal and Le Volfoni, while Nozic - a stablemate of the last named - is very much one for the future and is expected to derive plenty of benefit from today's experience of racing at Cheltenham. Le Volfoni had an arduous campaign last season but ran with credit on plenty of occasions. He is sure to try his heart out again but lacks the scope held by the selection. Lacdoudal also has a busy time of things last term but squeezed in a Grade 3 success for his troubles. He is now back on the same mark and will be a big threat despite being set to carry top weight. However, Too Forward is a chaser on the upgrade and, as he responds kindly to the patience of Timmy Murphy, we fancy this improving gelding will be too hard to resist when he delivers his late challenge today.
Lacdoudal (FR) 15-2 (11-12) Hit 1st, in touch until lost place 6th, ridden after 16th, kept on same pace from 3 out, 4th of 18, 16l behind Billyvoddan (10-12) at Ascot 3m lst hcp chs (1) gs in Dec.
Le Volfoni (FR) 4-1 (11-3) Tracked leaders, chased winner from 7th, challenged 4 out, ridden approaching next, soon every chance, one pace from 2 out, 2nd of 5, 4l behind Monet's Garden (11-7) at Ayr 2m 4f nov chs Grd 2 (1) gd in Apr.
Mariah Rollins (IRE) Evensfav (11-0) Chased leaders, went 2nd after 6th, ridden approching 4 out, no further impression, 2nd of 4, 21l behind Sporazene (11-7) at Exeter 2m 1f Grad Ch (2) sft in Dec.
Too Forward (IRE) 12-1 (11-10) Mid-division, headway 10th, driven 3 out, weakening when hampered 2 out, 9th of 16, 33l behind Exotic Dancer (11-2) at Cheltenham 2m 4f hcp chs Grd 3 (1) gs in Nov.
Aleron (IRE) 14-1 (11-0) Mid-division until dropped rear 7th, never dangerous after, 5th of 12, 19l behind Jericho III (11-2) at Ascot 2m 1f hcp chs 0-140 (2) gd in Dec.
Nozic (FR) 11-4fav (11-6) Mid-division, blundered 2nd, headway 5th, pressed winner from 5 out, hung left approaching last, hung right flat, kept on towards finish, 2nd of 14, 1/2l behind Nadover (11-6) at Chepstow 2m 3f hcp chs 0-135 (3) sft in Dec.
Ichi Beau (IRE) 33-1 (9-10) Soon led, jumped left, ridden and headed approaching 3 out, soon beaten, 5th of 7, 36l behind Fenix (10-4) at Fontwell 2m 2f hcp hdl (2) gs in Nov.
