held up in rear, ridden after 3 out, no impression, modest 5th before 2 out, soon weakened
chased leader until ridden and weakened approaching 2 out, well beaten 6th when pulled up before hurdle
held up, jumped slowly 2nd, closed 4th, went 2nd briefly before 2 out, no impression, 4th and weakening from hurdle
held up, closed after 2nd, ridden and one pace in 3rd 2 out, weakened last
led, not always fluent, clear 2nd until 3rd, kicked clear again after 3 out, still 4 lengths ahead flat, caught close home
tracked leaders, not fluent 4th or 5th, mistake and lost place 3 out, soon weakened, pulled up before next
keen early, held up, headway on inside 3 out, went 5 lengths 2nd when not fluent 2 out, jumped right and not fluent last, still 4 lengths down flat, finished strongly to lead close home
This may well turn out to be a hugely informative contest with five previous winners in the starting line-up alongside a couple of jumps-bred newcomers from yards who do well with juvenile hurdlers. Cabernet D'alene and Gibralfaro are certainly worth noting for future reference but we'll concentrate on those with racecourse experience. Ashoka and Berland were both easy winners on debut with the former preferred. He also has more scope than Darebin and Duke Of Medina but Paul Nicholls' brilliant record in the race points to the chances of FAVORITO BUCK'S, who was hugely impressive in a Listed event at Auteuil in September and could be a star in the making.
Darebin (GER) 7-4fav (11-5) Held up, smooth headway approaching 3 out, tracked leader approaching 2 out, challenged 2 out, soon led, came clear before last, kept up to work run-in, easily, won at Fontwell 2m 2f (4) sft in Dec beating Extreme Appeal (10-12) by 11l, 6 ran.
Favorito Buck's (FR) 8-1 (10-5) won at Auteuil 2m 2f lst sft in Sep beating Sympa Des Flos (10-5) by 8l, 11 ran.
Ashoka (IRE) 11-10fav (10-12) Always prominent, challenging when jumped left and not fluent 2 out, soon not clear run, not much room on landing last, squeezed though against rail to lead, ran on well, won at Warwick 2m (4) sft in Dec beating For Goodness Sake (10-5) by 2 3/4l, 10 ran.
Berland (IRE) 11-10fav (10-12) Keen early, always prominent, not fluent 4th, led narrowly after 3 out, pushed clear flat, readily, won at Catterick 2m (4) sft in Dec beating Miss Ranger (10-5) by 1l, 13 ran.
Duke Of Medina (IRE) 4-7fav (10-12) Led, headed soon after 3rd, led again 5th, clear 2 out, heavily eased run in, very easy, won at Market Rasen 2m 1f (4) sft in Nov beating Poet Mark (10-12) by 21l, 5 ran.
Cabernet D'Alene (FR) Day Flight gelding out of Haifa Du Noyer.
Gibralfaro (IRE) (8-13) won at Pont De Vivaux 1m 5f stks pol in Oct beating Parzival (8-13) by 2 1/2l, 6 ran.
