held up in mid-division, hit 5th, some headway on outside and pushed along after 3 out, hit 2 out, weakened soon after, tailed off
held up, headway to chase leaders 3 out, went 2nd 2 out, ridden and every chance last, stayed on same pace flat
held up in touch, hit 5th, smooth headway before 2 out, quickened on outside to lead last, stayed on strongly flat
chased leader, pushed along after 3 out, soon beaten, blundered last, tailed off
led, strongly pressed when hit 2 out, ridden and headed last, weakened, run-in
always behind, ridden and hit 5th, struggling soon after, tailed off
held up in rear, pushed along and headway approaching 2 out, weakened before last
chased leading pair, hit 4 out, stayed on to challenge and every chance last, kept on to chase winner run-in, but no real impression
held up in rear, steady headway on outside from 3 out, where mistake to chase leaders and hold every chance 2 out, weakened well before last
held up in rear, pushed along and headway approaching 2 out to get in behind leaders, weakened before last
chasing leaders when hit 2nd, behind from 4th, soon lost touch, tailed off when hit 3 out, pulled up before next
A good start to the card and the booking of Ruby Walsh for ULTIMATE suggests very serious intent from the in-form trainer Brian Ellison, and we will side with the colt to have the legs on Olofi and Bocamix, while there are a couple of very interesting debutants in this sphere. The selection, who is not quite rated as good as some of these on flat form, left a very good impression when beating a Nicky Henderson-trained odds-on shot by 22 lengths on good ground at Huntingdon on his hurdling debut. His jumping was less-than-fluent on a couple of occasions, but he should have learned plenty and with few riding this place better than Walsh he will be in very good hands. His sire won on soft ground on the flat, so there is hope that he will handle today's conditions and we will side with him. Tom George's Olofi won a Chepstow novices' contest before making the frame here in a Grade 2 race last time, when the ground was described as it is today. That looks to be very good form in context and he should go close. Steve Gollings has his string in great nick and he saddles Sergeant Pink, who impressed when landing back-to-back novices' hurdles, the latter under a penalty, at Market Rasen. He relishes cut and is much respected. Bocamix looked potentially the best horse Andy Crook has trained since Ryalux when trouncing his field in a Wetherby maiden hurdle recently, and he loves to get his toe in too, so he has to have claims. He stays 1m 4f on the flat, so this testing track should suit over today's trip. Baccalaureate had the beating of Bocamix when the pair met in France over 11f in August and makes his debut here for Nigel Twiston-Davies. He should handle the ground, although he does still have that to prove on the racecourse, but if doing so then he clearly could have a say. Ebiayn is rated 80 on the flat, where he stays 10f, so he should be suited by this. He will be well prepared, but we will side with Ultimate.
Nicky Nutjob (GER) 16-1 (11-6) In touch, hit 2nd, pushed along 4th, weakened and hit next, tailed off, 6th of 8, well behind Pistolet Noir (10-12) at Cheltenham 2m juv nov hdl Grd 2 (1) sft in Nov.
Bocamix (FR) 4-1 (10-7) Prominent, hit 4 out, led next, clear after 2 out, won at Wetherby 2m 3yo mdn hdl (5) sft in Nov beating Veronicas Boy (10-12) by 14l, 13 ran.
Olofi (FR) 12-1 (11-2) Held up in touch, headway to chase leading pair approaching 3 out, weakened before last, 3rd of 8, 14l behind Pistolet Noir (10-12) at Cheltenham 2m juv nov hdl Grd 2 (1) sft in Nov.
Sergeant Pink (IRE) 7-4fav (11-5) Led to before 4th, with leader, led again 2 out, ridden and stayed on well to go clear flat, won at Market Rasen 2m 1f 3yo nov hdl (4) sft beating Gwyre (10-5) by 4 1/2l, 5 ran.
Ultimate 9-2 (10-9) Made all, drew well clear approaching 2 out, not fluent last, eased towards finish, won at Huntingdon 2m 3yo nov hdl (4) gd in Nov beating Zarinski (10-12) by 22l, 11 ran.
Baccalaureate (FR) (9-1) 3rd of 9, 3/4l behind Bocamix (9-2) at Clairefontaine(FR) 1m 3f stk gd in Aug (flat).
Ebiayn (FR) 7-2 (9-0) Mid-division, headway on inside 4f out, ridden over 2f out, stayed on under pressure inside final furlong, switched left and no extra towards finish, 4th of 7, 2l behind Feathered Crown (9-3) at Epsom Downs 1m 2f 3yo mdn (5) gf in Oct (flat).
George Nympton (IRE) 5-1 (10-12) Held up in touch, lost place approaching 5th, headway approaching next, chased leaders approaching 2 out, went 2nd after last, no impression, 2nd of 6, 3l behind Peter Grimes (10-12) at Bangor 2m 1f 3yo mdn hdl (4) sft in Nov.
Khan Tengri (IRE) 14-1 (11-0) Rear of mid-division, headway into 8th 3 out, soon no impression, kept on one pace, 10th of 20, well behind Shanrod (11-0) at Navan 2m 3yo mdn hdl hvy in Nov.
Am I Blue 15-8fav (10-5) In touch, led 2nd, ridden after 2 out, headed narrowly last, kept on until no extra towards finish, 2nd of 9, 3/4l behind Mymateeric (10-9) at Fakenham 2m 3yo mdn hdl (5) gs in Nov.
Order Order 11-1 (8-2) Held up in rear in slowly run race, effort on outside over 3f out, weakened 2f out, 7th of 9, 8l behind Lyra's Daemon (8-11) at Wolverhampton 1m 4f hcp 0-75 (5) pol in Nov (flat).
Hector's House 8-11fav (10-12) Held up, took closer order 3rd, hit next, went 2nd after 3 out, led next, driven clear flat, won at Sedgefield 2m 1f 3yo nov sll hdl (5) sft beating Dr Valentine (10-12) by 9l, 5 ran.
