took keen hold, tracked leaders, went 2nd before 4th, dived at 2 out, 3rd and beaten from last, no extra
tracked leader until before 4th, close 2nd last, led flat, stayed on
led, pushed along before 3 out, headed flat, held towards finish
held up in touch in rear, pushed along 3 out, effort in 4th 2 out, no impression
held up in touch, not fluent 4 out, no impression after 3 out, no extra from 2 out
Paul Nicholls sent out last year’s winner and Amour de Nuit has leading claims having placed in this grade at Doncaster under today’s conditional rider. Dear Sire is not badly weighted in earlier wins but he looked beaten in second when falling behind SIR CHAUVELIN here on New Year’s Day. A smart handicapper on the Flat, Jim Goldie’s charge has now three of four starts over these obstacles and is taken to defy an 8lb rise given the ease of his latest success. Crackdeloust is upped in class after winning at Catterick and Forth Bridge has struggled since winning a juvenile hurdle here last year.
Amour de Nuit (IRE) 9-2 (11-9) Tracked leaders, led 4 out, headed run-in, no extra, 3rd of 9, 3l behind Irish Roe (11-0) at Doncaster 2m 1f hcp (2) gd in Dec.
Dear Sire (FR) 9-2 (11-12) Tracked leading pair, blundered 6 out, headed before 3 out, stumbled and fell 3 out, at Musselburgh 2m hcp (2) gs in Jan.
Forth Bridge 40-1 (11-9) Tracked leaders, reminders before 4 out, soon outpaced, no impression when hampered next, pulled up before 2 out, at Doncaster 2m 3f hcp (3) gd in Dec.
Sir Chauvelin 5-2 (11-0) Behind, headway before 3 out, switched right run-in, soon ridden, kept on to lead towards finish, won at Musselburgh 2m hcp (2) gs in Jan beating Silver Concorde (11-8) by 1 1/4l, 7 ran.
Crackdeloust (FR) 4-1 (11-12) Held up mid-division, went 3rd before 3 out to chase leaders, led before 2 out, kept on well, won at Catterick 2m 3f hcp (4) sft in Jan beating Niceandeasy (12-0) by 2 1/4l, 8 ran.