held up mid-division on inside, headway approaching 3 switched out before next, edged right between last 2, kept on into 2nd run-in, no chance with winner
towards rear, hit 3rd, never on terms
tracked leading trio and always going well 2nd on bit led approaching last, quickened clear, impressive
always towards rear, never a factor, tailed off and pulled up before 2 out
not fluent 1st, last pair, last and struggling 4 out, tailed off
tracked leader until before 2 out, chased leaders, 4th and weakening when mistake last
tracked leaders and wide, not fluent 4 out, pushed along after next, led before 2 out, ridden and headed before the last, outpaced and dropped to 3rd run-in
held up towards rear, never a factor
mid-division, pushed along after 3 out, plugged on into modest 4th run-in
led, headed before 2 out, weakened soon after
chased leaders on inside, hit 4 out, pushed along and weakened after next, soon behind, tailed off
raced keenly in rear, went right 4 out, no chance when flattened 2 out
NonRunner
Alan King has had the last two winners of this and a couple entered this year. Wayne Hutchinson opts for Market Rasen winner Praeceps but he was well beaten by Song For Someone at Newbury and the filly Giving Glances looks to have stronger claims as long as the ground remains good. She returned to winning ways in a Doncaster Listed race last time. Paul Nicholls has three runners but only Deadline Diva has run over hurdles before. However, Ecco was thought good enough to run in the German Derby last summer so could be useful. Fusil Raffles won in France last year and has joined Nicky Henderson but Beat The Judge has it all to do under his penalty and Ludlow winner Petit Palais will need more. PROTEKTORAT only weakened approaching the last in a Grade 2 at Cheltenham four weeks ago having been backed into favouritism on his debut for Dan Skelton. He remains a young hurdler of some potential and it would be unwise to write him off just yet.
Beat The Judge (IRE) 11-4fav (11-8) Held up in last pair, good headway on inside tracking leaders before 2 out, 3rd and weakened between last 2, 3rd of 8, 16 1/4l behind Belargus (10-12) at Ascot 2m (3) gs in Jan.
Ecco 7-1 (9-2) 12th of 13, 13l behind Weltstar (9-2) at Hamburg 1m 4f Grp 1 in Jul.
Fusil Raffles (FR) (11-0) 2nd of 8, nk behind Ch'ti Diamond (10-3) at Les Sables 2m 1f gd in Jul.
Needs To Be Seen (FR) 50-1 (10-12) Held up in rear, headway on wide outside before 3 out, soon prominent, every chance next, ridden and unable to quicken before last, well held flat, 5th of 6, 6 1/2l behind Quel Destin (11-3) at Cheltenham 2m (1) gd in Nov.
Pagero (FR) 33-1 (11-0) Held up in rear, took keen hold, mistake 1st, not fluent 4th, mistake 3 out, headway approaching 2 out, no impression and weakened after 2 out, 7th of 9, dist behind Fakir D'Oudairies (11-0) at Cheltenham 2m 1f (1) gs in Jan.
Petit Palais 8-1 (10-12) Chased leaders, led before 3 out, not fluent last, ran on well, won at Ludlow 2m (4) gs in Jan beating Zizaneur (11-4) by 4 1/2l, 8 ran.
Praeceps (IRE) 5-2 (10-12) Chased leaders, pushed along in 2nd approaching 2 out, led before the last, ridden clear, won at Market Rasen 2m 1f (4) gs in Feb beating Honorable (10-12) by 2l, 8 ran.
Protektorat (FR) 12-1 (11-0) Tracked leaders on outside, went 2nd before 2 out until final bend, no extra, 5th of 9, 22 1/4l behind Fakir D'Oudairies (11-0) at Cheltenham 2m 1f (1) gs in Jan.
Red Force One 5-1 (9-8) Led, took keen hold, headed approaching final furlong, soon hung left under pressure, rallied inside final furlong, ran on, just failed, 2nd of 9, shd behind Technological (9-6) at Kempton 1m 3f hcp (4) pol in Feb.
Rose Sea Has (FR) (10-10) 2nd of 10, nk behind Bel Apsis (10-10) at Pau 2m 1f in Dec.
Giving Glances 11-4 (10-12) Towards rear, headway before 3 out, led before last, kept on well, won at Doncaster 2m 1f lst fll (1) gd in Jan beating Via Delle Volte (10-12) by 1 3/4l, 8 ran.
Deadline Diva 3-1 (10-10) Chased leaders, led before 4 out, headed 2 out, 6th and weakening when fell last, at Kempton 2m (2) gs in Dec.
Song For Someone (GER) 13-8fav (11-4) Jumped slickly, made all, clear 3 out, ran on strongly, unchallenged, won at Newbury 2m (3) gs in Dec beating Praeceps (10-12) by 9l, 7 ran.
