raced wide, held up towards rear, headway approaching 2 out, driven and stayed on into well, held 2nd when mistake last, no impression on winner
mid-division, weakened 3 out, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out
raced on inside, smooth headway from 3 out, led on bit well before 2 out, driven clear after 2 out, kept on strongly
chased leader until weakened 3 out, tailed off when pulled up approaching 2 out
chased leaders, went 2nd 3 out, ridden and weakened before next
mid-division, weakened 3 out, tailed off when pulled up before last
raced widest of all, held up, rapid headway to go prominent at 4th, stayed on outer and lost place 6th, headway after 3 out, ridden into 3rd before 2 out, weakened into 4 when fell last
held up in rear, no impression on leaders after 3 out
held up in rear, bumped and mistake 7th, soon pushed along, stayed on approaching 2 out, left modest 4th last
in rear, pushed along 6th, soon struggling and pulled up 3 out
mid-division, ridden and no impression on leaders from 3 out, tailed off
took keen hold, soon prominent, weakened approaching 3 out, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out
led, ridden and headed well before 2 out, no chance with winner after 2 out, lost 2nd last
On paper this is a typically competitive renewal of the Lanzarote, consequently our preference for KEKI BUKU over Consigliere and Duc De Regniere is only marginal. Phillip Hobbs' French-bred gelding showed marked improvement to score at Leicester last time and although he's up 10lb and faces tougher opposition there could yet be more to come. That effort, along with all of his other wins, came over the minimum trip but we don't think this increase to 2m5f should pose a problem - it may even bring about more improvement. The yard have always thought plenty of the seven-year-old and their faith can be rewarded here, with softening conditions no problem. Consigliere won over fences last time and runs off the same mark here on his first try over smaller obstacles. He's won races over two and a half miles and appears to relish soft ground, so with a seemingly favourable handicap mark to work with connections will be hopeful of a big effort. Duc De Regniere is a classy sort at best and ran well when third to champion stayer Big Buck's last time. A Grade Two winner, Nicky Henderson's gelding has plenty of weight to carry but might be up to doing so with conditions placing an emphasis on stamina. He showed himself to be in good heart with a wide margin win over fences two starts ago and will doubtless attract support. Jockey bookings suggest that Tasheba is the stable's first choice but we aren't convinced he's within 4lbs of the top weight and so he's overlooked, despite his win last time and the fact that his profile is a solid one. Michael Flips looked a potentially top class sort back in 2008 but things haven't gone to plan since, although his run behind Fairyland last time was a step back in the right direction. Even so, he looks opposable at present with a bigger threat likely to come from Mighty Moon. Richard Fahey's unexposed hurdler likes soft ground and will be suited by the distance and rates a player, as does Aachen who looked set to challenge for top novice honours last year and still has potential to improve beyond this mark. Triggerman looks his stables second-string but Giles Hawkins is a capable pilot and we know he stays, Shamari was poor last time but isn't one to give up on just yet, and Chief Yeoman is back down to the same mark that saw him land a similar contest around this time last year. All have chances and are preferred to Overstrand who barely stays this far and both Fenix and Gee Dee Nen who race from out of the handicap. A cracking renewal that is a welcome tonic after the weather problems suffered of late, and one that can go to Keki Buku.
Duc De Regniere (FR) 11-2 (11-8) Raced in 4th place, headway to track leading pair before 3 out, driven and beaten before last, 3rd of 7, 12l behind Big Buck's (11-8) at Newbury 3m hdl G2 (1) gs in Nov.
Tasheba 8-1 (11-12) Tracked leaders, hit 4th, switched left to challenge approaching 2 out, every chance last, ran on under pressure and edged right, led close home, all out, won at Sandown 2m lst hcp hdl (0-150) (1) hvy in Dec beating William Hogarth (10-9) by hd, 9 ran.
Micheal Flips (IRE) 7-2fav (11-5) Held up in touch, ridden approaching 2 out, kept on from last, 6th of 12, 6l behind Fairyland (10-8) at Newbury 2m listed hcp hdl 0-145 (1) gs in Nov.
Aachen 2-1 (11-8) Chased leaders, hit 3 out, effort and hit 2 out, weakened and left 3rd last, 3rd of 9, 28l behind Tataniano (11-4) at Cheltenham 2m 1f nh nov hdl (2) gd in Apr.
Consigliere (FR) 4-1 (11-2) Chased leaders, jumped slowly 3rd, went 2nd before 3 out, led last, stayed on well flat, won at Newbury 2m 1f hcp chs 0-145 (2) gs in Nov beating Mam Ratagan (9-9) by 1 1/4l, 10 ran.
Chief Yeoman 4-1 (10-9) In touch, headway and pushed along after 3 out, weakened 2 out, 7th of 9, 36l behind Golan Way (10-13) at Wincanton 2m 6f hcp hdl (2) sft in Dec.
Shamari (FR) 8-1 (11-4) Held up, weakened from 3 out, 9th of 12, 48l behind Fairyland (10-8) at Newbury 2m listed hcp hdl 0-145 (1) gs in Nov.
Keki Buku (FR) 4-1 (11-5) Chased leaders, led 2 out, ridden clear flat, won at Leicester 2m hcp hdl 0-125 (3) sft in Dec beating Lindy Lou (11-3) by 6l, 12 ran.
Triggerman 11-4 (10-12) Held up, headway 8th, went 2nd 3 out, effort next, soon ridden, one pace, no impression flat, 2nd of 9, 6l behind Valentine Vic (10-12) at Taunton 3m nh nov hdl (4) sft in Dec.
Overstrand (IRE) 5-2fav (10-6) Prominent, pushed along 2 out, weakened approaching last, 5th of 9, 9l behind Tasheba (11-12) at Sandown 2m lst hcp hdl (0-150) (1) hvy in Dec.
Mighty Moon 13-8fav (11-8) Tracked leaders and not fluent, challenged 3 out, weakened from last, 2nd of 14, 10l behind Merrydown (11-8) at Newcastle 2m 4f nh nov hdl (4) gs in Mar.
Fenix (GER) 40-1 (11-12) Towards rear, ridden and struggling after 6th, tailed off, 10th of 12, 42l behind From Dawn To Dusk (10-11) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-140 (2) gd in Oct '07.
Gee Dee Nen 20-1 (11-4) Mid-division, lost place before 4 out, 12th of 19, well behind Lake Legend (11-12) at Kempton 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-135 (3) gs in Dec.
