tracked leaders to 4th, lost touch 6th
held up, not fluent 2nd, headway to chase winner after 8th, ridden and weakened 2 out
led 1st, not fluent and headed 2nd, ridden 8th, weakened next
Just the four runners line up here and Black Hills should be capable of taking first prize, Pablo Du Charmil should be the one to chase him home. Black Hills has always been considered a decent chasing prospect by connections and he put in a solid first effort over the larger obstacles. He wasn't beaten too far by a couple of very promising types and this looks a fair bit easier. Pablo Du Charmil contested some top hurdles events last season will have been well schooled by his top handler. The market will be a guide to his fitness and should be watched closely. Smoke Trial and Ballybean have both shown plenty of ability but shouldn't really be good enough to trouble the two market leaders. So in what is a probably a match, we will come down on the side of Black Hills.
Ballybean (IRE) 20-1 (11-1) Chased leaders, went 2nd 6th, weakening when hit 9th, tailed off, 9th of 10, well behind Tamarinbleu (11-1) at Ludlow 2m beg chs (4) gd in Jan.
Black Hills 10-1 (11-6) Held up but in touch, headway 6th, effort approaching 4 out, soon one pace, 3rd of 6, 12l behind Natal (11-6) at Exeter 2m 1f beg chs (4) gd in Oct.
Pablo Du Charmil (FR) 12-1 (11-10) Close 3rd, 2nd 3 out, challenged next, weakened entering straight, soon eased, 14th of 24, 25l behind The Last Hurrah (9-6) at Punchestown 2m hcp hdl 0-140 gd in Apr.
Smoke Trail (IRE) 20-1 (10-9) With leader, ridden to lead briefly 4 out, weakened after next and pulled up 3 out in race won by Paulo Dancer (11-3) at Cheltenham 2m 5f nov hdl (3) gs in Oct, 11 ran.
