in touch in 4th, left 3rd from 6th, left 2nd from 7th, soon back in 3rd place, left 2nd again 2 out, about length down when blundered last, soon jinked right and unseated rider
tracked leaders in 3rd when mistake and unseated rider 6th
made all, about a length up when left alone last
tracked winner until blundered and unseated rider 7th
in rear and in touch, blundered 7th, chased winner before 9th, every chance and close up when blundered and unseated rider 2 out
Buffalo Ballet is lightly raced for his age and was only beaten a neck in a similar race at Ayr earlier this month - Lucy Alexander rode him in his only previous victory and is back on board today. However, we just prefer MINELLA SUITE, who is five years his junior and is sure to have benefited from his run behind Sky Full Of Stars at Catterick, where he led until after the last and jumped well enough. Hawkhurst hasn’t shown much in three runs over fences and Ascot De Bruyere hasn’t managed a victory in 11 previous starts over the larger obstacles. Christmas Twenty was pulled up on his fencing bow at Carlisle.
Hawkhurst (IRE) 18-1 (10-11) In touch and in rear, pushed along before 12th and outpaced, mistake 2 out, never dangerous, last of 4, 13 1/4l behind Takingrisks (11-8) at Kelso 2m 6f hcp (3) hvy in Feb.
Christmas Twenty (IRE) 40-1 (11-4) Troublesome to post, towards rear, struggling from 5th, well beaten 8th, pulled up before last, at Carlisle 2m hcp (4) sft in Feb.
Ascot De Bruyere (FR) 6-1 (11-2) Tracked leader, mistake 4 out, ridden before 3 out, soon weakened, 4th of 7, 32 1/2l behind Master Ruffit (11-6) at Ayr 2m 4f hcp (4) hvy in Jan.
Buffalo Ballet 3-1 (10-10) Tracked leading pair, challenged 8th, 2nd 12th, led before 4 out until 2 out, ridden and held before the last, rallied as winner idled last 100 yards, just held, 2nd of 4, nk behind Marlee Massie (10-12) at Ayr 2m 4f hcp (4) hvy in Mar.
Minella Suite (IRE) 11-4 (11-12) Tracked leaders, led 3 out, ridden and headed before last, kept on same pace, 2nd of 5, 6l behind Sky Full Of Stars (11-1) at Catterick 2m hcp (4) sft in Mar.