never fluent, pulled hard, steadied rear, never a factor
held up in 5th, pushed along and weakened before 2 out
took keen hold, tracked leading pair, brought wide in straight, no extra in 4th run-in, went modest 3rd close home
led and set steady pace, hit 1st, stayed on inside in straight, headed 3 out, lost 2nd 2 out, soon outpaced, rallied into 2nd again run-in, no chance with very easy winner
took keen hold, soon steadied rear, some headway after 3 out, weakened next, hit last
took keen hold, tracked leaders on inside, 2nd when went right and mistake 2 out, no chance with easy winner, hit last, no extra and lost two places run-in
tracked leader, came wide in straight and led 3 out, came clear from 2 out, very easily
Only once in the last nine years as the Henderson stable failed to pick up the lion’s share of the prize money. It has three of the seven runners this year but WILLIAM HENRY looks the one to beat. He returned from a lay-off with an eye-catching run behind Pingshou at Cheltenham and should go one better. Mister Universum has won on the Flat in Germany and France but Captain Morley, a rarer runner over jumps for David Simcock, might be a bigger danger as he’s rated in the Nineties on the level and has twice won over 1m4f. Altaayil was a stayer on the Flat but last ran in April of last year.
Altaayil (IRE) 3-10fav (9-12) Made all, set steady pace until quickened over 3f out, drew clear over 1f out, eased closing stages, very easy, won at Wolverhampton 1m 4f mdn stks (5) pol in Apr beating Smart Motive (9-13) by 4l, 4 ran.
Captain Morley 8-1 (9-8) Held up, ridden over 2f out, headway approaching final furlong, stayed on to go 3rd, nearest finish, 3rd of 9, 3l behind Storm Rock (8-10) at Salisbury 1m 2f hcp (2) sft in Sep.
Christmas In April (FR) 3-1 (10-12) Keen tracked leaders, ridden 3 out, hampered after next, kept on one pace, 4th of 13, 21l behind Joe Farrell (10-12) at Ffos Las 2m 4f mdn (5) gd in Nov.
Le Dauphin (IRE) 25-1 (10-12) Always towards rear, fell last, at Newbury 2m 5f (3) sft in Nov.
Mansion (IRE) Invincible Spirit gelding out of Manoeuvre.
Mister Universum (GER) (9-2) last of 18, 17 1/2l behind Bohemian Rapsody (8-11) at Deauville 1m 2f hcp gd in Jul.
William Henry (IRE) 6-1 (10-12) Held up towards rear, headway 2 out, challenged last, stayed on, held towards finish, 2nd of 12, 1l behind Pingshou (10-12) at Cheltenham 2m 1f (3) gd in Dec.
