led, jumped right 5th, headed 2 out, gradually weakened
held up towards rear, headway to chase leaders 3 out, every chance next, led approaching last, headed flat, rallied under pressure to lead again close home
chased leaders, mistake 3 out, effort approaching next, soon outpaced, stayed on to go 3rd after last
always behind, weakened approaching 3 out, pulled up before next
held up in touch, headway to chse leaders 5th, pushed along next, soon weakened, behind when pulled up before last
prominent, driven to challenge after 3 out, led next, headed approaching last, led again soon after, headed and no extra towards finish
took keen hold tracking leaders, weakened 5th, tailed off when pulled up 3 out
Bladoun was very disappointing at Taunton last time having looked unlucky when falling at Chepstow previously. He's likely to be taken on for the lead here by Dawn Twister, who beat American Life over this trip at Fontwell before fading into fourth behind Pendra at Plumpton. SAMARKAND has his first run over hurdles but stayed on 1m6f on the Flat and was second on heavy ground at Yarmouth in October. If his jumping holds up, Neil King's four-year-old could well go close in this.
Dawn Twister (GER) 3-1 (11-5) With leaders, led after 2nd, headed 2 out, chased winner until last, no extra flat, 4th of 12, 5l behind Pendra (11-5) at Plumpton 2m nh nov hdl (4) sft.
American Life (FR) 10-1 (10-12) Held up in touch in rear, jumped left and not fluent 5th, not fluent 7th, outpaced before 2 out, 5th of 6, 14l behind Dreams Of Milan (10-12) at Uttoxeter 2m 4f nh nov hdl (4) hvy in Nov.
Bladoun (FR) 6-1 (10-12) Led, ridden 3 out, headed next, weakening when jumped badly left last, 4th of 13, 21l behind Kenai Peninsula (10-12) at Taunton 2m 3f nh nov hdl (4) sft in Nov.
Eco's Gamebird 20-1 (12-0) in a race won by No Pain No Gain (12-0) at Charing 3m ptp gd in Jan, 14 ran.
Samarkand (IRE) 15-2 (9-2) Tracked leader, ridden to lead over 2f out, headed over 1f out, kept on one pace, 2nd of 8, 1 1/4l behind Rawaki (9-1) at Yarmouth 1m 3f hcp 0-90 (3) hvy in Oct (flat).
Grace And Fortune 50-1 (10-12) Tracked leaders, hit 6th, not fluent and weakened next, tailed off, 9th of 11, well behind Umadachar (10-12) at Folkestone 2m 6f mdn hdl (5) sft in Nov.
Well Sprung (IRE) 25-1 (11-7) in a race won by Showman (12-0) at Penshurst 3m ptp gs in Mar, 11 ran.
