mid-division, headway after 4 out, ridden and led before 2 out, headed after 2 out, kept on one pace
prominent, travelled well, led after 2 out, ridden clear, won well
keen, led before second, ridden and headed before 2 out, kept on one pace
mid-division, ridden 3 out, weakened run in
towards rear, headway before 3 out, soon ridden, kept on one pace
mid-division, ridden and weakened before 3 out, tailed off
led, headed before second, ridden and weakened before 3 out, pulled up 2 out
in rear, ridden and slight headway over 3 out, stayed on without threatening
Formerly trained by John Gosden, Byzantine Empire could make a hurdler but fellow newcomer Naturally High hasn’t run for 923 days. BOMBYX (NAP), rated 98 on the Flat, travelled strongly on his hurdling debut at Huntingdon and won hard held. He looks just the type to run up a sequence. Across The Channel is surely better than he showed at Wetherby while Osprey Call beat a dual winner at Doncaster and is preferred to Lord Baddesley on the ground. Italian Spirit won a bumper in December and is sure to have had plenty of schooling.
Bombyx Evensfav (11-2) Close-up, joined leaders 4 out, cruised into lead after 3 out, pushed clear after 2 out, bad mistake last, soon recovered and readily drew clear, won at Huntingdon 2m mdn (4) sft in Mar beating Potenza (11-2) by 7l, 9 ran.
Lord Baddesley (IRE) 6-1 (11-4) Tracked leaders, mistake 5th, sprawled on landing and unseated rider, at Cheltenham 2m 1f (3) gs in Dec.
Osprey Call (IRE) 7-1 (11-2) Keen in mid-division, closer on inside before 4th, chased leaders going well before 3 out, hung left and went 2nd before 2 out where led and pecked, continued to hang left and went clear, flattened last, kept on well, won at Doncaster 2m 1f (4) gs in Feb beating Across The Line (12-2) by 3 3/4l, 11 ran.
Across The Channel (FR) 13-2 (10-12) Keen in midfield, hit 1st and 2nd, led after 5th, headed after 4 out and weakened quickly, last of 11, dist behind Valleres (10-12) at Wetherby 2m 4f (4) gs in Oct.
Italian Spirit (IRE) 6-4fav (11-0) In touch, headway 3f out, ridden to press leader entering final furlong, driven to lead final strides, won at Market Rasen 2m 1f mdn (5) sft in Dec beating Kankin (11-0) by 1/2l, 9 ran.
Lissitzky (IRE) 18-1 (11-0) Chased leaders, bumped 4th, weakened after 3 out, 14th of 17, dist behind Jay Bee Why (11-0) at Warwick 2m 5f mdn (4) sft in Dec.
Naturally High (FR) (9-2) 5th of 6, 8 1/2l behind Brundtland (9-2) at ParisLongchamp 1m 4f Grp 2 stks gs in Sep.
Rocco Du Berlais (IRE) 66-1 (11-2) Held up towards rear, mistake 1st, some headway when mistake 5th, weakened before 4 out, pulled up before 3 out, at Fontwell 2m 2f mdn (4) sft in Mar.
Byzantine Empire 12-1 (8-12) Keen held up towards rear, pushed along and weakened over 1f out, 10th of 11, 10 1/4l behind Ghaly (10-0) at Newmarket 1m hcp (4) gf in Aug.
Zuba 25-1 (9-9) Tracked leaders, led 5f out, headed over 2f out, weakened inside final furlong, 8th of 12, 5 1/2l behind Hint Of Stars (9-9) at Kempton 1m 3f hcp (4) pol in Feb.
