chased leaders, bumped 1st, not fluent 5th, lost place 7th, not fluent next, behind from 10th, pulled up before 2 out
tracked leader, jumped right 1st, ridden after 13th, 3rd and one pace before 4 out, no impression after, blundered last
chased leaders, jumped left, bumped into rival 1st, 2nd and 4th, struggling from 11th, tailed off after 13th, pulled up before 2 out
held up, bumped 1st, 2nd and 4th, closed 6th, went 2nd when mistake 4 out, ridden after 3 out, led last, stayed on
jumped right at times, held up, headway 10th, outpaced 13th, soon behind, blundered 2 out
led, ridden and headed last, held towards finish
It's hard to make a case for King Alfonso in this and Foxtail Hill would need to improve on his fourth at Newton Abbot in July but the remaining quartet all look to have decent claims. Allez Vic has won four times over hurdles and will surely be getting off the mark over fences sooner rather than later. Cut The Corner bolted up at Southwell last week but is lumbered with a penalty and has never won back-to-back races previously. He is also worse off then when finishing behind Jayo Time at Uttoxeter earlier. HEPIJEU fully exploited his allowance when winning by 14 lengths at Stratford. He could be a decent chaser in the making and this sharp track will be in his favour so he gets the nod.
Allez Vic (IRE) 8-1 (10-4) In touch when blundered and lost place 2nd, mistake next, behind from 5th, kept on from last, never troubled leaders, 7th of 11, 25l behind Anay Turge (10-4) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp (1) gd in Apr.
Cut The Corner (IRE) 15-8fav (11-12) Tracked leader, led after 9th, clear from 11th, easily, won at Southwell 2m 4f hcp (4) gd in Sep beating Ballybogey (11-12) by 22l, 5 ran.
Foxtail Hill (IRE) 14-1 (11-1) Held up in touch, effort 4 out, no impression, 4th of 7, 22l behind Dubai Prince (11-1) at Newton Abbot 2m (4) gd in Jul.
Jayo Time (IRE) 10-3fav (11-9) Mid-division, closed 5th, jumped left and led 3 out, blundered next, headed last, no impression towards finish, 2nd of 9, 1 3/4l behind Kodicil (11-9) at Uttoxeter 2m 4f hcp (4) gd in Sep.
King Alfonso 10-1 (11-0) Held up, never dangerous, last of 9, dist behind Purple 'n Gold (11-6) at Worcester 2m hcp (3) gd in Sep.
Hepijeu (FR) 3-1fav (10-7) Made all, clear until 7th, ridden clear again and hung left before last, stayed on well, won at Stratford 2m 3f (4) gs in Sep beating Voix D'eau (11-6) by 14l, 6 ran.
