tracked leader, mistake 3 out, led approaching last, headed soon after hurdle, held final 100 yards, stayed on
held up in 3rd, closing when mistake 2 out, shaken up to challenge when mistake and unseated rider last
held up in 4th, not fluent 3 out, closed 2 out, challenged last, soon led, in command final 100 yards, stayed on well, driven out
led, ridden and headed approaching last, soon beaten, left 3rd at hurdle, no extra
took keen hold in last, not fluent 4th, outpaced after 3 out, well beaten before next
The diminutive Leoncavallo keeps churning out the victories and is as game as a pebble. He fought back to head Sceau Royal, a nine-length winner next time at Warwick, on his latest start at Wetherby and that one short-headed ADRIEN DU PONT at Chepstow in October only to lose the race in the stewards' room. However, the unexposed Nicholls' horse was hampered and did have to be switched at the final flight, where he made a mistake, and he is fancied to extend his unbeaten record and lay down a marker today. Sky Lino looks held on the form book and Chic Name won't be good enough on what he's shown so far.
Adrien Du Pont (FR) 4-9fav (11-5) Held up in touch, went 2nd before 2 out, ridden before last, kept on and just held post, 2nd of 7, shd behind Sky Lino (10-12) at Chepstow 2m (4) gd in Oct.
Leoncavallo (IRE) 4-6fav (11-6) Set steady pace, not fluent and narrowly headed 5th, pressed leader and stayed challenging, ralled gamely run-in to regain lead post, won at Wetherby 2m lst (1) sft in Oct beating Sceau Royal (11-6) by ns, 5 ran.
Sceau Royal (FR) 2-5fav (11-4) Tracked leader, effort when hit 2 out, shaken up between last 2, led last, pushed clear flat, easily, won at Warwick 2m (4) gs in Nov beating Winterfell (11-4) by 9l, 4 ran.
Chic Name (FR) 5-4fav (11-5) Led narrowly 1st until after next, led 3rd, not fluent next, ridden and headed before 2 out, chased leading pair, weakened between last two, soon dropped to 4th, 4th of 5, 11l behind Darebin (10-12) at Sandown 2m (4) sft in Nov.
Sky Lino (FR) 9-4 (10-12) Ran loose for over a mile and crashed through some plastic rails before start, raced freely and pressed leader, led 4th, pressed from 3 out, headed soon after next, kept on, 2nd of 7, 6l behind Sikandar (10-12) at Bangor 2m 1f mdn (4) sft in Nov.
