soon tracking leaders, 3rd and one pace from 3 out (normal 4 out)
tracked leaders and wide, went 2nd 3 out (normal 4 out), hit next, 4 lengths down last, kept on under pressure run-in, always held
led, headed well before 3 out (normal 4 out), soon weakened and pulled up
tracked leading pair on inside, 2nd going well before 3 out (normal 4 out) until 3 out, weakening when mistake next
pressed leader, mistake 3rd, led well before 3 out (normal 4 out), 4 lengths ahead last, driven out
mistake 1st, held up in last pair, modest 4th and one pace from 3 out (normal 4 out)
always in rear, outpaced and struggling bypassing 4 out (normal 5 out), tailed off, pulled up before next
Dragon's Den hasn’t run since July but his only win over fences came around here in 2015. Dance Floor King won over course and distance a little under a year ago but is still 6lb higher, though usually keeps better company. Lord Bryan made all at Chepstow last month but is closely matched with third Major Hindrance on today’s terms. We’ll take a chance on LE BOIZELO, who faced a stiff task on his reappearance here against better horses. He’ll strip fitter today and relishes the mud.
Allee Bleue (IRE) 7-1 (11-11) Held up in rear and keen, hit 1st, headway on inside chasing leaders when hit 6th, pushed along and weakened after 4 out, 6th and no chance when blundered 2 out, eased, 7th of 9, dist behind Crievehill (11-12) at Lingfield 2m hcp (3) sft in Nov.
Le Boizelo (FR) 40-1 (11-0) Last from 3rd, behind 5th, tailed off in back straight, left 3rd 3 out, 3rd of 4, 32 1/4l behind West Approach (11-5) at Exeter 2m 3f (2) sft in Dec.
Lord Bryan (IRE) 9-2 (11-2) Made all, kept on well, ridden out, won at Chepstow 2m 3f hcp (4) hvy in Dec beating Looks Like Power (11-0) by 5l, 12 ran.
Dance Floor King (IRE) 6-1 (10-7) Chased leaders, lost place 9th, rallied after 5 out, short of room after 3 out, weakened next, 5th of 9, 19 1/2l behind Play The Ace (11-7) at Kempton 2m 4f hcp (3) gs in Nov.
Major Hindrance (IRE) 7-1 (11-5) With leader, pushed along after 6 out, ridden 4 out, kept on same pace, 3rd of 12, 6 3/4l behind Lord Bryan (11-2) at Chepstow 2m 3f hcp (4) hvy in Dec.
Cap Horner (FR) 6-1 (11-6) Held up towards rear when pulled up before 5th, dismounted, at Taunton 2m 7f hcp (4) sft in Dec.
Dragon's Den (IRE) 12-1 (10-10) Behind, not fluent 10th (water), some headway 4 out, blundered next, soon no further impression, 5th of 9, 15 1/4l behind Honkytonktennessee (10-9) at Stratford 2m 7f hcp (3) gd in Jul.
