made all, jumped left 8th, clear after 2 out until last, drew clear again flat
mostly chased winner, ridden after 3 out, not fluent 2 out, closed last, no impression, well held flat, just held on to 2nd
raced in last, outpaced after 9th, went 3rd before 2 out, kept on flat, almost took 2nd, no impression on winner
raced keenly and hung left, chased leaders but went 2nd at times, pushed along before 3 out, soon weakened, pulled up before last
It’s almost four years since Late Romantic last ran over hurdles but he has won three times over fences. Mr Mantilla is making his debut over the smaller obstacles but has won five times between the flags and wasn’t disgraced over fences at the Cheltenham Festival last year. GRACE A VOUS ENKI won over fences in France but has been a bit disappointing so far in this country. However, he’s never going to get a better chance to break his duck, though Lucky So And So did get the attention of the stewards when a staying-on third at Exeter.
Grace A Vous Enki (FR) 12-1 (11-1) Held up, in touch when pushed along 5 out, not fluent next, weakened and pulled up 2 out, at Warwick 3m 5f hcp (1) sft in Jan.
Late Romantic (IRE) 14-1 (10-4) Mid-division, closed 3rd, weakened 14th, pulled up before last, at Haydock 3m 2f hcp (2) hvy in Dec.
Lucky So And So (IRE) 125-1 (11-7) Raced in mid-division, ridden and outpaced before 3 out, kept on at 2 out, made no impression, 3rd of 12, 16 3/4l behind Ballyblack (11-7) at Exeter 2m 6f mdn (4) gs in Feb.
Mr Mantilla (IRE) 40-1 (12-0) Tracked leader 2nd, led 5th until 12th, chased leaders, mistake 18th, soon lost place, no chance when blundered last, 8th of 18, dist behind Porlock Bay (12-0) at Cheltenham 3m 2f (2) gs in Mar.
