tracked leaders, driven and lost place after 4 out, outpaced when blundered next, soon weakened, tailed off
held up in rear, struggling from 4th, stayed on to take modest 4th flat, no chance with leaders
tracked leaders, outpaced in 3rd after 3 out, no chance with front pair from next, kept on same pace under pressure from last
not fluent 1st, led, not fluent again 4th, headed between last 2, kept on same pace, no chance with impressive winner in clear 2nd from last
held up in touch, outpaced in 4th when stumbled 3 out, no chance with leaders after, lost place flat
tracked leader, led going well between last 2, came towards stands side rail before last, drew readily clear flat, impressive
Philip Hobbs has a good recent record in this and sent out subsequent Triumph Hurdle winner Defi Du Seuil to win last year’s running. GUMBALL is hard to oppose in this season’s renewal given he won in good style at both Stratford and Chepstow last month and is clear of the others with a rating. That includes Eragon De Chanay, Speedo Boy and Joseph O’Brien’s Apparition, who have all won over timber, while Apple's Shakira and Eh Georges were both successful at Vichy in France for Emmanuel Clayeux earlier this year with the former subsequently joining Nicky Henderson’s yard and now sporting the McManus colours.
Apparition (IRE) 4-1 (11-4) Prominent and led before 2nd, slight mistake 4th, pressed 2 out, ridden and headed approaching last where slight mistake, no extra run-in, 3rd of 7, 7 1/4l behind Espoir D'allen (11-4) at Down Royal 2m sft in Nov.
Eh Georges (FR) (10-7) won at Vichy 2m gd in Sep beating Blue Indian (10-7) by 3/4l, 11 ran.
Eragon De Chanay (FR) 2-5fav (11-4) Tracked leader, led approaching 2 out, hard ridden, stayed on well, won at Ffos Las 2m (4) sft in Oct beating Glorvina (10-11) by 2 1/2l, 3 ran.
Gumball (FR) 4-6fav (11-5) Not always fluent, made all, clear when hit 4 out, hit 3 out, stayed on strongly, unchallenged, won at Chepstow 2m (4) gd in Oct beating Malaya (11-5) by 8l, 7 ran.
Speedo Boy (FR) Evensfav (10-12) Tracked leaders, wandered into 1st and 2nd, not fluent 5th, stumbled just before 3 out, challenged 2 out, edged right last, soon led, ran on well, won at Huntingdon 2m (4) gd in Nov beating Jumping Jack (10-12) by 2 1/2l, 9 ran.
Apple's Shakira (FR) (10-4) won at Vichy 2m hvy in May beating Sainte Lovely (10-3) by 8 1/2l, 13 ran.
