held up in rear, some headway approaching 4 out, mistake and weakened 3 out
raced wide, in touch until pushed along and dropped to rear 6th, soon lost touch, tailed off before 4 out
held up in touch, driven along in well held 7th 4 out, stayed on approaching last, kept on flat, never in contention
always behind, pushed along 6th, struggling in rear soon after, tailed off
led until 4th, lost 2nd next, well there until ridden along and weakened from 4 out
tracked leader, led 4th, blundered and headed 4 out, dropped to 3rd when hit 3 out, soon no chance with leading duo, weakened to 4th flat
chased leaders, ridden after 4 out, stayed on from 2 out, went 3rd flat, no chance with leading duo
in touch, headway to 3rd on long run to 4 out, chased winner before 3 out, soon no impression, clear 2nd best
close up. chased leader 5th, hit next, led 4 out, clear next, stayed on well, eased towards finish, easily
always in last trio, ridden along 5th, soon struggling, tailed off
in touch until weakened before 4 out, tailed off
PAVILLON BLEU did his winning over fences last season and was described as a slow horse by connections but he should have sufficient speed for this test on his return to hurdling and looks fairly handicapped on his defeat of Green Belt Elite in November as the runner-up ran out a 16 length winner from a mark of 133 two starts later. Majaales is considered but needs to improve to win from his current perch and a more interesting alternative is For Non Stop who showed ability for Charlie Mann and now makes his handicap debut for a shrewd yard; the market can guide. Earth Dream has been in good form over fences and can't be ignored whilst Blazing Buck ran well on this card twelve months ago and has claims on the pick of his efforts.
Majaales (USA) 12-1 (10-5) Held up towards rear, not fluent 5th, headway going well approaching 3 out, soon chasing leaders, no extra flat, 8th of 22, 8l behind Sir Harry Ormesher (11-1) at Aintree 2m 4f Listed hcp hdl (1) gd in Apr.
Tarvini (IRE) 8-1 (11-9) Mid-division on outside, jumped slowly 2nd, ridden and weakened after 6th, tailed off, 11th of 12, well behind Working Title (11-7) at Uttoxeter 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-135 (3) gd in Sep.
Earth Dream (IRE) 11-4 (11-3) Tracked leaders, took keen hold, pushed along approaching 4 out, went 2nd after 3 out, led before last, driven out, won at Newton Abbot 2m 5f nov chs (3) sft in Aug beating Gee Dee Nen (11-8) by 1 1/4l, 4 ran.
Magic Sky (FR) 14-1 (11-6) In rear, pushed along approaching 10th, some headway and 5th 3 out, never dangerous, 5th of 11, 26l behind Storymaker (10-10) at Bangor 2m 4f hcp chs 0-135 (3) sft in Apr.
Blazing Buck 6-1 (10-12) Chased leaders, pushed along after 5th, weakened 4 out, tailed off, 10th of 11, well behind Alhaque (10-9) at Ascot 2m 4yo nov hcp hdl (2) gd in Apr.
Winsley Hill 25-1 (11-12) Made all, ridden and stayed on well to forge clear flat, won at Fontwell 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gd in Sep beating Is It Me (11-11) by 10l, 9 ran.
Santera (IRE) 9-4fav (11-3) Mid-division, jumped slowly and pushed along 6th, headway 3 out, chased winner approaching 2 out where not fluent, strong challenge last, held final 100 yards, 2nd of 9, 2l behind Extreme Conviction (11-7) at Market Rasen 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-120 (3) gd in Sep.
Pavillon Bleu (FR) 7-2 (11-12) Held up, headway approaching 4 out, hard ridden after last, stayed on to lead close home, won at Exeter 2m 3f hcp chs 0-120 (3) sft in Dec beating Darn Hot (10-1) by ns, 12 ran.
For Non Stop (IRE) 11-4 (11-2) Held up in touch, stumbled 3rd, closed 6th, close 3rd when not fluent 2 out, no extra close home, 3rd of 13, 3l behind Like A Hurricane (11-2) at Fontwell 2m 2f mdn hdl (5) gd in Mar.
Tin Pot Man (IRE) 18-1 (10-11) Prominent, led 2nd, soon headed, remained close up, went 2nd approaching 2 out, left closer and switched left last, ridden to lead towards finish, won at Newton Abbot 2m 1f mdn hdl (4) gd in Jun beating Coeur de Lionne (11-0) by 1 1/4l, 14 ran.
Apache Chant (USA) 5-1 (11-12) Held up mid-division, pushed along approaching 6th, chased leaders approaching 3 out, kept on same pace from next, 4th of 9, 9l behind Seaquel (11-2) at Bangor 2m 1f cond nov hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gd in Jun.
