prominent, not fluent 2nd, jumped slowly 4th, led after 5th, headed 3 out, one pace from 2 out
prominent, took keen hold, lost place after 3 out, weakened before next
held up, always in rear, tailed off before 3 out, soon pulled up
held up towards rear, mistake 2nd, headway after 5th, weakening in 5th when fell 2 out
mid-division, jumped left 2nd, lost place when mistake 5th, plugging on when left 5th and not fluent 2 out, no chance with leaders
tracked leaders, hit 3rd, led 3 out, clear 2 out, not fluent last, stayed on well
took keen hold, led, jumped right 2nd, headed after 5th, lost place 3 out, soon weakened, tailed off
mid-division, headway after 4th, lost place before 3 out
held up towards rear, mistake 2nd, fell next
tracked leaders, mistake 2nd, lost place and ridden after 4th, weakened before 3 out, pulled up before next
held up towards rear, bumped 3rd, headway approaching 3 out, went 4th next, stayed on same pace
tracked leaders, every chance 3 out, hit 2 out, no impression on winner, stayed on same pace
This race generally attracts a decent entry and this year is no exception. Angelot Du Berlais beat Sky Khan at Ludlow and makes plenty of appeal while Calculated Risk won by six lengths on his hurdling debut at Doncaster. Chris Pea Green may not have beaten much at Lingfield but did it easily while Seventh Sign scraped home at Newbury and won three times on the Flat, though gives the impression an extra half-mile wouldn't come amiss. Deia Sunrise is surely better than he showed at Kempton and Last Shadow has been very highly tried so far and is worth monitoring for future reference as he was just behind Roc D'Apsis at Cheltenham last time. ZAMDY MAN's run in the Finale Hurdle at Chepstow was a cracking first effort and he can find the necessary improvement to land this, though Paul Nicholls' Irish import Brinestine should be winning soon.
Angelot Du Berlais (FR) 16-1 (10-12) Chased leader until 2nd, stayed pressing, led again 6th, ridden and joined 2 out, kept slight lead, strongly pressed from last, driven to assert close home, won at Ludlow 2m 4yo hdl (4) sft in Jan beating Sky Khan (10-9) by 1/2l, 9 ran.
Bohemian Rhapsody (IRE) 20-1 (8-13) Keen tracked leaders, ridden 3f out, weakened over 1f out, 9th of 11, 13l behind Instrumentalist (9-2) at Wolverhampton 1m 6f 3yo hcp 0-80 (4) pol in Oct (flat).
Bold Cuffs 10-1 (10-12) Held up in touch in rear, took keen hold, headway after 5th, every chance when not fluent 3 out, mistake last, weakened flat, 5th of 6, 17l behind Seventh Sign (10-12) at Newbury 2m 4yo hdl (4) sft in Jan.
Brinestine (USA) 4-1 (9-13) Chased leaders, 2nd travelling well 2f out, improved to lead and ridden clear from 1f out, stayed on strongly, easily, won at Curragh 1m 1f 3yo hcp hvy in Oct beating Jeremy's Girl (10-6) by 8l, 9 ran (flat).
Calculated Risk 14-1 (10-12) Held up towards rear, headway after 4 out, led last, ran on strongly, won at Doncaster 2m 4yo hdl (4) gs in Jan beating Aazif (10-12) by 6l, 11 ran.
Chris Pea Green 8-1 (10-9) Took keen hold tracking leading pair, hit 1st and 4th, led on bit before 2 out, quickened clear between last 2, very easily, won at Lingfield 2m 4yo mdn hdl (5) hvy in Jan beating King Arthur (10-12) by 20l, 6 ran.
Deia Sunrise (IRE) 11-4 (10-12) Pulled hard, held up in 4th, pulled way up to lead before 3rd, headed 4 out, chased winner until approaching next, weakened rapidly soon after, tailed off, 4th of 5, well behind L'unique (10-12) at Kempton 2m 4yo hdl (4) sft in Jan.
Last Shadow 7-1 (11-0) Went left 1st, held up in touch, lost place 2 out, soon outpaced, rallied to dispute well beaten 3rd after last, no impression with leaders, 5th of 8, 33l behind Rolling Star (11-7) at Cheltenham 2m 1f 4yo hdl Grade 2 (1) hvy in Jan.
Roc D'Apsis (FR) 16-1 (11-0) Held up in last pair, driven to chase leaders after 3 out, outpaced after next, switched left flat, stayed on to take 3rd near finish, no chance with front pair, 3rd of 8, 33l behind Rolling Star (11-7) at Cheltenham 2m 1f 4yo hdl Grade 2 (1) hvy in Jan.
Seventh Sign 7-4fav (10-12) Tracked leaders, not fluent 1st, jumped slowly 3rd, not fluent 3 out, challenged next, soon ridden, driven flat, just held on, won at Newbury 2m 4yo hdl (4) sft in Jan beating Veauce De Sivola (10-12) by ns, 6 ran.
Sky Khan 11-4 (10-9) Chase dleaders, went 2nd travelling well approaching 3 out, challenged next, driven upsides and every chance flat, no extra and outstayed close home, 2nd of 9, 1/2l behind Angelot Du Berlais (10-12) at Ludlow 2m 4yo hdl (4) sft in Jan.
Zamdy Man 25-1 (11-0) Took keen hold, tracked leaders, not fluent 4th, ridden and beaten when not fluent 2 out, soon weakened, 5th of 8, 17l behind Ruacana (11-0) at Chepstow 2m 4yo hdl Grade 1 (1) hvy in Jan.
