tracked leaders, ridden and weakened 9th
in rear, jumped slowly 2nd, behind when mistake 5th, pulled up after 7th
in touch, bad mistake 5th and lost place, not fluent next, blundered badly 8th and soon pulled up
tracked leaders throughout, joined leader winner when mistake 3 out, ridden, every chance flat, no extra
mid-division, mistake 8th, ridden from 10th to chase clear leaders
made all, joined 3 out, ridden soon after, ran on well flat
held up rear, well behind when fell 2 out
Sud Bleu did not progress as much as expected over hurdles last term and while falling on his recent chase debut is taken to make amends here at the main expense of Lacdoudal and Nathos. Lacdoudal looks the pick of the two Philip Hobbs-trained runners ahead of Clarendon and his shrewd handler has wasted no time in putting the five-year-old over the larger obstacles. He has to be respected along with Alan King's Kadount, who showed good form in novice hurdles last term before being found out in handicaps. A market move for either Paul Webber's Cooldine King or Gary Moore's Wait For The Will, who is going chasing late on in his career at the age of eight, would be of interest but preference is for Sud Bleu. The Paul Nicholls-trained gelding has had a frustrating couple of years but has the ability to make a chaser. The six-year-old should have learned a great deal from his chasing debut at Fontwell and, with the stable in better form now, he looks worth a bet in a decent novices' event.
