chased leader after 1st, led 3rd, headed after 4th, not fluent 8th, led 9th, headed 4 out, 3rd and held from last
led after 1st, headed 3rd, led after 4th, not fluent next, headed 9th, led 4 out, driven out
not jump well, in touch, losing touch 8th, well behind next, soon pulled up
led until after 1st, chased leaders, close up 3 out, mistake 2 out, 4th and well held last
mistake 2nd, behind next, mistake 5th, pulled up before 8th
held up, not fluent 6th, jumped right 7th, closed 4 out, went 2nd before last, stayed on flat
Dame du Soir was confined to hurdles last season but has won over the larger obstacles and wasn’t beaten far off a 2lb higher mark at Sedgefield in January of last year. Shut The Box won at Newbury in March and may have gone over the top when pulled up at Kempton in May. ON THE WILD SIDE was still in touch and going well when unseating his rider on the final circuit at Hexham last month. He’s probably worth another chance on this slightly better surface.
Dame du Soir (FR) 11-1 (11-12) Raced keenly, tracked leader until before 3rd, chased leaders, 2nd again 6th until after 3 out, chased leaders, weakened before next, tailed off, 7th of 8, dist behind Royal Claret (10-5) at Hereford 3m 2f hcp (3) sft in Feb.
Shut The Box (IRE) 4-1 (10-2) Reluctant to race, tailed off 1st, soon pulled up, at Kempton 2m 2f hcp (2) gd in May.
On The Wild Side (IRE) 5-2 (11-12) Raced keenly, mistake 1st, tracked leaders, blundered and eventually unseated rider 13th, at Hexham 2m 4f hcp (4) sft in Oct.
Doukarov (FR) 16-1 (11-6) Took keen hold, held up in rear, mistake 1st, closed after 2nd, 5th and beaten from 8th, well held from 4 out, 7th of 10, 27 3/4l behind Magic Dancer (11-4) at Worcester 2m hcp (3) sft in Oct.
Storm Rising (IRE) 40-1 (10-0) Chased leaders out wide, mistake and bumped 6th, lost place when mistake 8th, tailed off next, pulled up 2 out, at Stratford 2m 3f hcp (2) gd in Aug.
Cilaos Glace (FR) 33-1 (11-8) Prominent, led briefly 5th, soon headed, led 3 out, headed before 2 out, weakened quickly, well beaten when not fluent last, 12th of 13, dist behind Flint Hill (11-2) at Perth 2m 4f hcp (4) gd in Apr.