towards rear, not fluent 5th, pushed along after 4 out, headway approaching where jumped left, kept on but never on terms
mostly in touch in mid-division, not fluent 8th, pushed along before 2 out, unable to go with leaders before last, weakened flat
held up on inside, headway 3 out, went 2nd when hit last, held by winner flat, stayed on
prominent on inside, lost place before 2 out, soon behind, tailed off
led until 8th, ridden after 2 out, one pace before last, kept on again final 100 yards and took 3rd towards finish
prominent, led 8th, ridden and in command flat, stayed on well
prominent on outside, challenged 7th, every chance 2 out, stayed on same pace flat, lost 3rd towards finish
held up in rear, headway after 9th, lost place after 2 out, soon weakened, tailed off
Another Festival trial and this one has been very significant in recent years. Aye Aye Charlie finally came good at Kelso but only had three modest rivals. He’s run in some hot races but has never had much luck here and had earlier been beaten by Stoney Mountain at Aintree with that one out-battled by Doux Pretender at Ascot subsequently, though the latter is giving 3lb away today. Rocco and Rockpoint already look thoroughly exposed and it would be no surprise if Southwell winner Supremely Lucky reversed Chepstow form with the former. DANNY WHIZZBANG was all out to win a Hereford maiden last month but pulled hard and ran green and that shows he has bags of stamina. Improvement will be needed here but that can almost be taken for granted.
Doux Pretender (FR) 9-2 (11-3) Took keen hold, held up in last pair, closer approaching 4 out, pushed along in 4th before 2 out, ridden between last 2, went 2nd after the last, hung left run-in, led towards finish, won at Ascot 2m 6f (2) gd in Nov beating Stoney Mountain (11-3) by hd, 7 ran.
Aye Aye Charlie 1-12fav (10-12) Tracked front pair, went 2nd before 5th, mistake 3 out, led going well between last 2, in command after, driven out flat, won at Kelso 2m 7f (4) gd in Nov beating Starozov (10-12) by 6l, 4 ran.
Lisnagar Oscar (IRE) 10-3 (11-0) Chased leaders, 2nd 3 out until approaching next, 2nd again between last 2, no chance with very easy winner, 2nd of 12, 5l behind Emitom (11-0) at Ffos Las 2m 4f mdn (4) sft in Nov.
Lough Derg Diamond (IRE) 15-2 (11-0) Led until after 2nd, chased leaders, every chance 2 out, weakened before last, 4th of 11, 8l behind Champagne Platinum (11-0) at Newcastle 2m mdn (4) sft in Dec.
Rocco (IRE) 4-1 (11-12) Chased leaders on inside, weakened bypassing omitted 3 out, 5th of 9, 32 1/4l behind Penn Lane (11-6) at Ffos Las 2m 6f hcp (3) sft in Nov.
Rockpoint 6-1 (10-3) Chased leaders, 2nd travelling well before 3 out, stayed on under pressure run-in, closed towards finish, not reach winner, 2nd of 12, 1/2l behind Vive Le Roi (10-13) at Newbury 3m hcp (2) sft in Nov.
Supremely Lucky (IRE) 11-10fav (10-12) Held up, headway 9th, 2nd before 2 out, led approaching last, soon clear, won at Southwell 3m (4) gd in Nov beating Reve (10-12) by 7l, 7 ran.
Three Bullet Gate (IRE) 10-1 (10-12) Tracked leader, joined leader 3 out, led next, headed bend approaching last, not fluent last, joined post, 2nd of 5, 10l behind Skandiburg (10-12) at Fakenham 2m 4f (4) gs in Dec.
Danny Whizzbang (IRE) 5-2 (11-0) Prominent, led 4th, ridden approaching last, all out, won at Hereford 3m 2f mdn (4) gs in Nov beating Master Card (11-0) by 3/4l, 10 ran.
