chased (easy) winner throughout, came wide in home straight, well held before next
tracked leading trio, lost place and behind at 4th, soon ridden and no response after next, tailed off and pulled up 4 out
raced wide in last pair, closer at 4th, blundered 6th, pushed along before 3 out, went modest 4th run-in
raced on inside throughout, made all, not fluent 5th, clear from 3 out, stayed on strongly, unchallenged
held up and soon in last, closer when awkward 5th, pushed along and outpaced before 3 out, plugged on in 3rd run-in
kept wide, chased leading pair, pushed along and hit 3 out, soon ridden and no extra in 3rd, hit last, weakened badly and lost two places run-in
Esprit Du Large looked an exciting prospect when landing a Sandown Grade 1 in December 2019 but jumping problems have put paid to his progress. Breffinboy won five times over hurdles at the backend of 2020 including twice here. He'll be better for his run at Cheltenham in November while Kissesforkatie was an impressive 10l winner on heavy going here on New Year's Day. The latter is up 7lb though looks certain to get involved but dual novice winner Honneur D'Ajonc is unproven on testing ground. Blackjack Magic won a maiden nicely at Lingfield though has fallen in two of his last four but GEORGES SAINT, a dual winner over fences in France, made an excellent debut for new connections at Haydock and looks the one to beat.
Esprit Du Large (FR) 20-1 (11-12) Held up off the pace and always towards rear, tailed off and pulled up before the last, at Cheltenham 2m 1f hcp (3) gs in Dec.
Breffniboy (FR) 28-1 (11-10) Mid-division on inside, closer when hit 3 out, weakened soon after, 8th of 11, 18 3/4l behind Gowel Road (11-10) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp (3) gd in Nov.
Kissesforkatie (IRE) 9-2 (11-12) Held up, headway into midfield 5 out, eased into lead 2 out, went clear, readily, won at Exeter 2m 3f hcp (3) hvy in Jan beating Getaweapon (11-2) by 10l, 7 ran.
Honneur D'Ajonc (FR) 15-2 (11-6) Raced handy, ridden 2 out, stayed on after last but never getting to winner, 2nd of 9, 5 1/2l behind The Widdow Maker (11-12) at Wincanton 1m 7f hcp (3) gd in Dec.
Blackjack Magic 11-2 (11-12) Mulish leaving paddock, mounted on course, waited with in rear, steady headway turning in, 3rd and held when fell heavily last, at Lingfield 2m 3f hcp (4) hvy in Dec.
Georges Saint (FR) 3-1 (10-12) Held up in mid-division, shaken up after 2 out, stayed on flat, went 3rd, not able to challenge, 3rd of 7, 1 1/2l behind Jungle Jack (11-5) at Haydock 2m (3) hvy in Dec.
