jumped well throughout, tracked leader, led 4 out, clear 2 out, comfortable
keen tracked leaders, 3 lengths down when blundered and unseated rider 3 out
close up, pushed along when left 3rd 3 out, ridden next, headway approaching last, stayed on to go 2nd final strides
keen led, clear 2nd, jumped right next, headed 4 out, chased winner, ridden 2 out, not fluent last, lost 2nd final strides
in rear, weakened 4 out
NUBE NEGRA has leading claims on these terms having made a winning start over fences when beating the odds-on Ballymoy, rated 151, at Warwick at the start of the month. Dan Skelton’s charge should prove good enough on that form. Locker Room Talk looks next best at the weights having won twice over timber while Richard Johnson partnered Encore Champs to an earlier success over hurdles and the latter has undergone wind surgery since last in action. Ar Mest is another returning from an absence and is preferred to Fleur Irlandaise, an import from France where she won a couple of times over timber.
Nube Negra (SPA) 5-1 (11-4) Held up, went 3rd 6th, went 2nd going strongly 4 out, led before last, quickened clear flat, eased close home, won at Warwick 2m (4) gd in Oct beating Ballymoy (11-4) by 3l, 6 ran.
Ar Mest (FR) 10-1 (10-7) Mid-division, headway chasing leaders before 4 out, 2nd and every chance 2 out, still challenging at the last, ridden and no extra final 100 yards, 5th of 14, 7 1/2l behind Al Dancer (11-8) at Ascot 2m hcp (1) gs in Feb.
Encore Champs (IRE) 20-1 (11-1) Mid-division, driven before 2 out, never pace to challenge, weakened last, 8th of 14, 34l behind Colonial Dreams (11-2) at Sandown 2m 4f hcp (2) gd in Apr.
Locker Room Talk (IRE) 1-16fav (11-12) Led, ridden and headed before last, kept on and no impression, 2nd of 4, 9l behind True Romance (10-12) at Southwell 2m (4) gd in Jun.
Fleur Irlandaise (FR) (10-10) won at Dieppe 2m 1f gd in Aug beating Galouska (10-5) by 2l, 13 ran.
