prominent, ridden and every chance 2 out, kept on same pace flat
pulled hard, held up, soon prominent, led after 3rd, mistake and headed 4th, weakened 3 out
in touch, hit 2nd, ridden and weakened after 3 out
keen, held up mid-division, behind and pulled up 3 out
keen, tracked leader, led 4 out, headed 2 out, jumped right and blundered last, one pace
mid-division, headway approaching 3 out, mistake and led 2 out, ridden and ran on
held up in rear, never dangerous
held up, smooth headway 4th, chased leaders 2 out, ridden and kept on same pace
in rear, behind and pulled up 3 out
held up, headway and mistake approaching 3 out, ridden and soon weakened
behind and pulled up 3 out
in touch, ridden and weakened 3 out
in touch, ridden and headway 3 out, chased leaders next, not pace to challenge
This appears to be the weaker division of this contest and we will take a chance with the debutante Monfils Monfils, Amir El Jabal and Raydan may prove best of the others. Nicky Henderson's entire was a pretty classy handicapper in France, landing a big prize at Maison Laffitte in July and finishing a close up third at the same track on his final run in October. He will have been well schooled and if the market speaks in his favour take note. Amir El Jabal is another French import having won decisively at Auteuil before moving to David Pipe. He has had just the one run for his new stable which was too bad to be true. It may have been the heavy ground and so we may see a much better performance on this better surface. Raydan deserved plenty of credit on this hurdling debut at Plumpton as he was going well for a long way. He will come on a bundle for that run and should be in the shake up. All in all this doesn't appear to be a very strong contest and Monfils Monfils is expected to make a winning start to what could be a decent career.
Le Burf (FR) 20-1 (10-9) Tracked leaders, led after 3 out, stayed on strongly from next, in command when not fluent last, ridden out, won at Wincanton 2m mdn hdl (4) sft beating The Venetian (10-9) by 10l, 17 ran.
King's Thought 20-1 (11-2) Led and soon clear, ridden and headed approaching 3 out, soon weakened, no chance when pulled up 2 out in race won by Toparudi (11-2) at Fakenham 2m cnd mdn hdl (4) gd in Mar, 11 ran.
Monfils Monfils (USA) (8-10) Prominent, every chance, no extra, 2nd of 18, 3l behind Kavafi (9-9) at Maisons-Laffitte 1m hcp sft in Oct (Flat).
Raydan (IRE) 33-1 (11-5) Tracked leaders and keen, hampered 2nd, ridden 3 out, weakened 2 out, 4th of 10, 21l behind dhtrs Thunder Rock (11-5) & Santando (11-5) at Plumpton 2m nov hdl (4) sft.
The Logical Man (IRE) 22-1 (11-6) Held up, struggling 2 out, tailed off, last of 11, well behind Classic Fiddle (10-13) at Hereford 2m 4f nh nov hdl (4) hvy.
Amir El Jabal (FR) 2-1fav (11-5) Close up, lost place before last, soon no chance, last of 6, 46l behind Classic Dream (10-12) at Plumpton 2m 3yo nov hdl (4) hvy in Dec.
Bon Viveur 16-1 (10-7) Chased leaders, ridden after 3 out, soon weakened, 6th of 10, 23l behind Predateur (10-7) at Taunton 2m 1f nov hdl (2) sft.
Super Sensation (GER) 66-1 (11-0) Not fluent, well in rear, mistake 4th, tailed off next, 6th of 8, well behind De Soto (11-8) at Kempton 2m nov hdl (2) gs in Dec.
