in touch, headway 5th, narrow lead 3 out to 2 out, regained lead between last 2, headed last, stayed on same pace flat
tended to jump left, in touch, headway to lead 4 out, narrowly headed 3 out, rallied between last 2, led and went left last, driven clear flat
towards rear when ridden 3 out, never in contention after
always in rear, tailled off 4 out
always in rear
mid-division, hit 3rd, ridden and no impression when hit 2 out
mid-division, headway 5th, challenged 3 out, slight lead on outside 2 out, headed well before last, stayed on same pace flat
behind most of way, mistake 2 out
behind, plugged on one pace from 2 out
held up in mid-division, headway 5th, challenged 3 out, ridden and hit 2 out, weakened
mid-division, headway and driven after 2 out, chased leaders approaching last, stayed on under pressure flat
led to 4th, weakened after next, tailed off
behind, tailed off when pulled up 2 out
held up in rear, headway approaching 3 out, stayed on same pace from next
chased leaders, mistake and weakened 5th, tailed off when pulled up 2 out
held up in rear, headway approaching 3 out, soon chasing leaders, stayed on same pace from 2 out
mistake 4 out, always in rear, tailed off
mistake 1st, chased leaders, led 4th to 4 out, soon weakened
prominent, hit 4 out and soon weakened, tailed off when pulled up approaching 3 out
Sizing Europe looked all over the winner before falling two out on his reappearance at Punchestown last month and Henry De Bromhead's gelding is taken to gain ample compensation here, getting the vote ahead of Osana and Pevensey. The last mentioned showed decent form over hurdles last term and comes here fit from the flat so has to be respected on his return to the winter game. The Phillip Hobbs-trained Lead On is less exposed than most and would have claims if coming on for his recent reappearance at Chepstow. Jonjo O'Neill has his string in good form at present so his runner Mountain has to be respected, while Altilhar may be a shade high in the weights having been raised 2lbs since his return at Ascot when he was race fit from the level. Noel Meade's Orbit O'Gold is fit from the level and has claims but may prefer a softer surface and a bigger threat may come from David Pipe's reappearing Osana, who was a highly creditable second in the big novices' hurdle at Aintree's National meeting when last seen. Sizing Europe looked an unfortunate loser at Punchestown last time though and is taken to gain compensation here.
Osana (FR) 3-1 (11-0) Chased leader, led after 6th, headed flat, one pace, 2nd of 8, 2 1/2l behind Blythe Knight (11-0) at Aintree 2m nov hdl Grd 2 (1) gd in Apr.
Sizing Europe (IRE) 9-4fav (11-9) Tracked leaders in 4th, improved into 2nd travelling well 3 out, led when fell 3 out in race won by Aitmatov (11-12) at Punchestown 2m 2f lst hdl gd in Oct, 7 ran.
Orbit O'Gold (USA) 20-1 (11-7) With leaders, went 2nd 3rd, ridden after 3 out, mistake, weakened 2 out, 13th of 22, 24l behind Ebaziyan (11-7) at Cheltenham 2m nov hdl Grd 1 (1) sft in Mar.
Chiaro (FR) 8-11fav (11-6) Made all, ridden approaching 2 out, withstood challenge last, ran on, won at Cheltenham 2m 1f 4yo nov hdl (2) gd in Apr '06 beating Pace Shot (11-6) by 5l, 5 ran.
French Saulaie (FR) 8-1 (11-10) Behind, ridden and headway 7th, one pace from 2 out, 7th of 17, 9l behind Pigeon Island (10-9) at Market Rasen 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-145 (2) gd in Sept.
Lead On (IRE) 4-1 (10-10) Held up mid-division, headway 5th, ridden to lead 4 out, mistake and headed briefly 3 out, under strong pressure when headed close home, 2nd of 14, 1/2l behind Don't Push It (10-8) at Chepstow 2m 4f lst hcp hdl (1) gd in Oct.
Trouble At Bay (IRE) 33-1 (10-1) Mid-division, headway 5th, ridden approaching 2 out, weakened before last, 22nd of 28, 27l behind Pedrobob (10-0) at Cheltenham 2m 1f hcp hdl Grd 3 (1) gs in Mar.
Heathcote (10-6) In touch, weakened quickly 3 out, 7th of 15, 38l behind Shinco Du Berlais (10-3) at Auteuil 2m 5f hdl Grd 2 in May.
Victram (IRE) 14-1 (10-3) Held up behind, headway after 3 out, soon ridden, stayed on, nearest finish, 6th of 20, 4 1/2l behind Heathcote (10-6) at Newbury 2m hcp hdl Grd 3 (1) sft in Feb.
Mountain (IRE) 8-1 (11-0) Took keen hold, prominent, ridden and weakened approaching 2 out, pulled up before last pulled up at the last in race won by Katchit (11-0) at Cheltenham 2m 1f nov hdl Grd 1 (1) gs in Mar, 23 ran.
Chivalry 40-1 (11-8) Mid-division, ridden 2 out, led approaching last, headed last, rallied flat, just failed, 2nd of 10, hd behind Kings Quay (11-9) at Wincanton 2m hcp hdl Grd 2 (1) gd.
Mill House Girl (IRE) 9-1 (11-2) Made all, ran on gamely flat, driven out, won at Cheltenham 2m cnd hcp hdl 0-135 (3) gd in Oct beating Erra Go On (9-11) by 1l, 17 ran.
Pevensey (IRE) 7-1 (10-13) Held up towards rear, fell 7th fell 4 out in race won by Overstrand (11-7) at Ascot 2m 3f hcp hdl (2) gs in Feb, 14 ran.
Pigeon Island 7-2 (11-7) Held up, some headway 7th, ridden 4 out, plugged on, 3rd of 8, 29l behind Elusive Dream (11-4) at Chepstow 2m 4f nov hdl Grd 2 (1) gd in Oct.
Orpen Wide (IRE) 9-1 (11-9) Always prominent, went 2nd approaching 4th, led 3 out, headed last, no extra towards finish, 5th of 8, 4l behind Bureaucrat (11-11) at Huntingdon 2m hcp hdl 0-135 (3) gf.
Platin Grounds (GER) 17-2 (9-9) Held up towards rear, headway 3 out, close up when mistake, slightly hampered 2 out, soon ridden, stayed on, 2nd of 16, 1 1/2l behind Kanad (9-7) at Ascot 2m hcp hdl (2) gf.
Ingratitude (IRE) 10-11fav (11-4) Mid-division, headway approaching 6th, chased winner approaching 2 out, challenged last, not quicken towards finish, 2nd of 10, 2l behind Deep Purple (10-12) at Stratford 2m nov hdl (3) gd in May.
Manhattan Boy (GER) 4-5fav (10-0) Tracked leader, led after 3rd, headed 2 out, soon weakened, 10th of 16, 42l behind Border Castle (10-9) at Cheltenham 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-135 (3) sft in Dec.
Wizard of Us 33-1 (10-0) Led, ridden approaching 3 out, headed 2 out, no extra towards finish, 7th of 23, 6l behind Leslingtaylor (9-11) at Haydock 2m hcp hdl Grd 3 (1) gd in May.
Altilhar (USA) 10-1 (10-12) Mid-division, ridden, headway after 3 out, stayed on from last, 3rd of 16, 2 1/2l behind Kanad (9-7) at Ascot 2m hcp hdl (2) gf.
Poquelin (FR) 13-8fav (11-10) Led until hit 5th, ridden and led again approaching last, hard ridden and headed flat, kept on, 3rd of 10, nk behind Kings Quay (11-9) at Wincanton 2m hcp hdl Grd 2 (1) gd.
Kanad 8-1 (9-7) Mid-division, headway 5th, ridden to lead last, kept on well, won at Ascot 2m hcp hdl (2) gf beating Platin Grounds (9-9) by 1 1/2l, 16 ran.
