held up off the pace in 4th, under pressure after 4 out, soon weakened and tailed off, moderate 4th
made all, drew clear approaching last, impressive
chased leaders, mistake 1st, driven before 4 out, hit next, soon weakened, modest 3rd
tracked leader, effort after 3 out, no impression on easy winner
Nonrunner
Followers of Paul Nicholls could be set for a bumper day and he's won this opener in five of the last eight years. DOLOS has his first run for the Ditcheat handler but showed plenty of ability on his hurdling debut at Auteuil in April when third in Listed company and is a potentially smart recruit. He looks the stable number one ahead of Worcester winner Cliffs Of Dover, a beaten favourite at Market Rasen next time and carrying a penalty. The latter still looks to have the beating of Pongo Twistleton but Rainbow Dreamer is an interesting debutant having won on the Flat and been placed over 1m6f.
Diablerets (FR) Vendangeur gelding out of Lavande.
Dolos (FR) (10-5) 3rd of 16, 10l behind Middle (10-5) at Auteuil 1m 7f lst sft in Apr.
Lake Placid 22-1 (8-10) Tracked leader until over 2f out, soon weakened, last of 10, 28 1/4l behind Imperial Aviator (8-10) at Leicester 1m 2f mdn stks (5) gs in Apr.
Rainbow Dreamer 9-2 (9-6) Unseated rider after false start, tracked leading pair, went 2nd over 3f out, ridden and stayed on same pace over 1f out, 2nd of 5, 2 1/2l behind Alyssa (9-7) at Salisbury 1m 6f hcp (4) gf in Aug.
Cliffs Of Dover 2-1fav (11-3) Held up, in last pair, bumped 1st, headway before 2 out, beaten when not fluent last, took 3rd flat, 3rd of 7, 5 3/4l behind Nachi Falls (11-6) at Market Rasen 2m 1f (2) gd in Sep.
Alcanar (USA) 7-1 (9-0) Chased leaders, ridden over 3f out, soon not much room, weakened from over 1f out, 6th of 9, 12l behind Dltripleseven (8-0) at Lingfield 1m 6f hcp (6) gf in Jul.
Pongo Twistleton 9-2 (10-12) Towards rear, jumped right 1st, not much room 4th, reminder after next, headway 3 out, 4th next, never on terms, well beaten when mistake last, 4th of 9, 16 3/4l behind Cliffs Of Dover (10-12) at Worcester 2m mdn (4) gd in Aug.
