led until after 6th, led 10th, clear 2 out, easily
pressed winner, led after 6th, mistake and headed 10th, beaten 3 out, weakened next
held up, behind 6th, hit 9th, tailed off before 10th
tracked leaders, jumped right 2nd, dropped off front trio 8th, closed before 3 out, 3rd approaching next, no impression on winner
tracked leaders, mistake 9th, dropped off front pair next, closed to take 2nd 3 out, no impression on winner
in rear, slow and behind 6th, not fluent next, tailed off before 10th, soon pulled up
Paul Nicholls has won this in each of the last three years so it seems folly to oppose AS DE MEE (NAP), who still has time on his side and was very highly tried in his first season over fences, though was placed four times including twice in Grade 1 company. Charmix is an obvious danger based on his form over hurdles as he won at Wetherby around this time last year and later at Newbury, though was pulled up when Royal Vacation finished sixth in a Grade 2 at Cheltenham in January. Red Devil Star and Talk Of The South are likely to find easier opportunities in the months ahead.
As De Mee (FR) 4-1fav (11-9) Soon chasing leaders, every chance on inside 3 out, soon not much room briefly on rail, driven and one pace between last two, weakened approaching last, 9th of 11, 11 1/2l behind Junction Fourteen (11-8) at Sandown 2m 4f hcp (2) gd in Apr.
Charmix (FR) 9-1 (11-12) Tracked leading pair, hit 4 out, driven and lost place before 2 out, soon weakened, behind when pulled up before last, at Cheltenham 2m 4f (1) hvy in Jan.
Forrest Blue (IRE) 125-1 (11-5) Never fluent and ran in snatches, always last, outpaced when mistake 12th, weakened next, tailed off, last of 4, dist behind Frodon (10-13) at Fontwell 2m 5f (4) gd in Sep.
Red Devil Star (IRE) 10-3 (11-9) Led until after 1st, led next, clear 2 out, 5 lengths ahead last, ridden out, won at Fontwell 2m 2f hcp (4) gs in Apr beating Planetoid (11-10) by 3 1/4l, 7 ran.
Royal Vacation (IRE) 16-1 (10-11) In touch in mid-division, weakened after 3 out, 10th of 17, 18l behind Mckinley (11-2) at Sandown 2m 4f hcp (2) gd in Apr.
Talk Of The South (IRE) 4-1 (10-2) Held up in rear, headway on outer before 8th, led when not fluent 3 out, hard pressed before next, soon ridden, headed when mistake last, no impression with winner flat, 2nd of 8, 3 1/4l behind The Tourard Man (11-12) at Warwick 3m 1f hcp (3) gs in May.
