bumped 1st, in touch in mid-division, closed after 7th, led 2 out, soon headed, no impression on winner last
led 1st, not fluent next or 6th, headed before 2 out, soon weakened
took keen hold, rear of mid-division, pecked 2nd, not fluent 5th or 6th, pushed along after 7th, weakened before 2 out
in rear, headway after 7th, weakened before 2 out
jumped left and bumped 1st, in touch in mid-division, mistake 6th, headway after next, 3rd 2 out, well held before last
led until 1st, prominent, outpaced after 7th, plugged on into 4th before last, no impression
prominent, led before 2 out, not fluent at 2 out and headed, soon led again, clear before last, stayed on well
jumped right at times, chasing leaders before 2nd, not fluent 5th, weakened after 7th, pulled up before 2 out
Big City Roller, a winner between the flags, has a penalty to carry for landing a 2m4f novice hurdle at Carlisle where he stayed on strongly after leading three out. Drop Flight won three times over fences in France but has been racing in hunter chases and has changed stables. Paddy De Pole had jumped poorly between the flags before a very impressive victory at Belharbour in February and has joined Paul Nicholls. THE NEWEST ONE, a winner over fences, is 0-10 over timber but has been placed seven times and was only beaten a length in a Class 2 handicap at Cheltenham so looks the one to beat. The lightly-raced Sprucefrontiers looks best of the remainder.
Big City Roller 11-2 (11-0) Prominent, led approaching 3 out when not fluent, ridden and hard pressed 2 out, every chance last, stayed on strongly flat, well on top close home, won at Carlisle 2m 4f (4) sft in Oct beating Impatient (11-0) by 2 1/4l, 10 ran.
Cloudy Flamingo (IRE) 80-1 (11-4) Raced wide tracked leaders, dropped to rear 7th, behind next, pulled up before 15th, at Cheltenham 3m lst (1) sft in Nov.
Drop Flight (FR) 7-4fav (11-12) Tracked leaders, mistake 13th, hit 14th, headway to press leaders before 3 out where not fluent, ridden home turn, 8 lengths 2nd jumping last, stayed on strongly run-in, just denied, 2nd of 9, shd behind Firak (12-2) at Hexham 3m (5) sft in Apr.
Hawaii Du Mestivel (FR) 8-1 (11-0) Tracked leader, not fluent 3 out, soon weakened and pulled up before next, at Plumpton 2m 5f (4) gs in Nov.
Paddy De Pole (IRE) 5-1 (12-2) Rr of mid-div, 5th 1/2way, prog bef 5out, ld bef 3out, asserted aftr 2out, drew clr & 10l adv bef last, kow, easily, won at Bellharbour 3m gd in Feb beating Desert Cave (12-2) by 15l, 7 ran.
Sprucefrontiers (IRE) 5-1 (11-0) Tracked leaders, lost place 5th, outpaced 4 out, ridden and headway 2 out, stayed on towards finish, 4th of 11, 12l behind Emailandy (11-0) at Plumpton 2m 5f (4) gs in Nov.
The Newest One (IRE) 16-1 (10-2) Tracked leaders, ridden to chase winner approaching last, stayed on towards finish, 2nd of 15, 1l behind Buddy One (12-0) at Cheltenham 3m hcp (2) sft in Nov.
Valens Bruyee (IRE) 40-1 (11-0) Towards rear, not fluent 6th, mistake 4 out and ridden, struggling before omitted 2 out, tailed off, last of 7, dist behind Josh The Boss (11-5) at Aintree 2m 4f (3) sft in Nov.
Easy On Me (IRE) 25-1 (11-2) Rear mid-division, tailed off after 3 out, 11th of 13, dist behind Southern Babylon (11-2) at Market Rasen 2m 5f mdn (4) gs in Nov.
