made all, reminders after 4 out, not fluent next, stayed on strongly
tracked leader, effort after 3 out, stayed on approaching last, no extra closing stages
chased leaders, driven to challenge 3 out, weakened next
held up, not fluent 1st, took closer order halfway, weakened 3 out, beaten when mistake last
AMI DESBOIS bit off more than he could chew when well beaten in the Albert Bartlett at Cheltenham last month but had been progressing well before that. He’s burdened with accumulated penalties today but is still weighted to beat his main rival, Just Minded. The latter opened his account over timber with a victory at Market Rasen last time and makes more appeal than point-to-point winner and hurdling debutant An Laoch while Thomas Todd has placed in a bumper and also makes his hurdling bow.
Ami Desbois (FR) 33-1 (11-5) Led, hard pressed 2 out, ridden and headed between last 2, soon lost place, well held before last, lost modest 4th flat, 5th of 15, 21 1/2l behind Penhill (11-5) at Cheltenham 3m (1) gd in Mar.
Just Minded (IRE) 9-4 (11-1) Tracked leader, joined leader 5th, ridden 2 out, led flat, ran on, won at Market Rasen 2m 1f (4) sft in Mar beating Top Ville Ben (12-1) by 3l, 5 ran.
An Laoch (IRE) Evens (12-2) Mid-div, prog to jn ldrs 4out, prog into 2nd app str, ld last, kow run-in, won at Horse And Jockey 3m mdn Yielding - Soft in Mar beating Ka Maresco (12-2) by 1 1/2l, 7 ran.
Thomas Todd 50-1 (11-0) Held up and behind, ridden over 3f out, some headway from over 2f out, never involved, 8th of 16, 18l behind Brahms De Clermont (11-7) at Cheltenham 2m (3) gd in Oct.
