jumped well, made all, clear and nudged out from last, eased towards finish, unchallenged
took keen hold, tracked leaders on inside, jumped slowly 3 out, 3rd before next, hit last, 2nd soon after, stayed on run-in, no chance with winner
keen, tracked leaders, not fluent 2nd and next, lost place and behind after 3rd, struggling next, tailed off
held up in 5th, jumped slowly and outpaced 5th, struggling in 6th next, soon lost touch, tailed off
took keen hold, tracked leaders, 2nd before 2 out, shaken up and well held between last 2, mistake last and lost 2nd soon after, kept on same pace in 3rd
chased winner until pushed along before 2 out, weakened 2 out
held up in rear, some headway on outside before 2 out, weakened and no chance when mistake 2 out
OISTRAKH LE NOIR joined Ben Pauling for 120,000 euros after winning over hurdles in France and though very fortunate to finish a close second at Ascot will have come on for the run and may be good enough to concede weight all round. Sable Island, a winner at Chester for Sir Michael Stoute, started favourite on his hurdling bow at Hereford but a mistake three out put paid to his chances and he was well beaten. Working Class won a Lingfield maiden for Peter Chapple-Hyam on soft ground and makes his debut over timber as does Dan Skelton's Antunes, who is by Nathaniel out of a German Oaks-placed mare.
Oistrakh Le Noir (FR) 9-2 (11-4) Led until after 1st, chased leader who went clear after next, hit 4 out, pushed along and lost 2nd before 2 out, no impression in 3rd, left in 2 lengths lead last, ridden and edged right run-in, headed and no extra near finish, 2nd of 6, nk behind Nayati (11-4) at Ascot 2m (3) sft in Jan.
Antunes (9-2) 2nd of 7, 6 1/2l behind Northsea Star (9-2) at Neuss 1m 3f stks pol in Nov.
Hamelin Pool 200-1 (10-0) Tracked leaders, pushed along over 4f out, lost place over 3f out, last of 10, 33l behind One More Chance (8-3) at Southwell 1m mdn stks (5) pol in Jan.
Simafar (IRE) 8-1 (9-7) Always towards rear, no impression straight, never a factor, 20th of 22, 20 1/2l behind Happy Company (9-3) at Navan 1m 2f hcp Yielding in Sep.
Working Class 33-1 (8-8) Raced centre, held up towards rear, some headway over 1f out, weakened inside final furlong, 9th of 17, 5l behind Yellowhammer (9-3) at Newmarket 7f hcp (4) gs in Nov.
Zoltan Varga 40-1 (10-7) Held up towards rear, not fluent 2nd, ridden before 3 out, no impression, soon well beaten, 9th of 15, 34l behind Turtle Wars (11-5) at Huntingdon 2m mdn (4) sft in Jan.
Tael O' Gold 125-1 (10-12) Blundered 1st, saddle slipped, pulled up before 2nd, at Catterick 2m fll (4) gs in Feb.
Sable Island (IRE) 2-1fav (11-2) In touch in mid-division, not fluent 5th, closed when slow next, ridden after 2 out, weakened before last, 6th of 10, 22 1/4l behind Royale Zanzibar (11-2) at Hereford 2m mdn (5) sft in Jan.
