led, ridden, headed 3 out, rallied to lead again approaching last, stayed on well
tracked leaders, led 3 out, headed approaching last, kept on one pace
held up in rear, headway 4 out to chase leaders, outpaced after next
held up towards rear, headway 4 out, soon ridden and weakened 3 out
mid-division, dropped to rear halfway, soon lost touch
chased leaders, ridden, weakened approaching 3 out
pulled hard in rear, headway halfway to track leaders, weakened 4 out, tailed off, pulled up before 3 out
in touch, effort approaching 3 out, soon weakened
towards rear, never dangerous
towards rear, never dangerous
towards rear, struggling halfway, tailed off, pulled up before 3 out
mid-division, dropped to rear halfway, tailed off, pulled up before 3 out
in touch, reminder 5th, soon lost place, tailed off, pulled up before 3 out
tracked leaders, ridden approaching 3 out, soon outpaced
towards rear, behind from halfway
tracked leaders, ridden, weakened 4 out, behind when pulled up next
in touch, effort after 4 out, weakening when mistake 2 out
Last time out winners Brave Rebellion and Ballyfitz have to be respected under their penalties but preference is for another winner on his most recent start, New Alco, who created a favourable impression when scoring on his first start for new connections at Aintree and is taken to follow up. A French import, Ferdy Murphy's gelding handled the cut in the ground really well at Aintree and should have little difficulty with today's slightly longer trip. Toni Alcala has come to hurdling rather late in life but has shown promise in three starts so far and has to be respected along with Howard Johnson French import Hockenheim, who showed enough on his British debut to suggest that he can win races. Em's Royalty may need the run and is beginning to look exposed anyway, while King's Protector has yet to convince fully at the winter game and remains one to be wary of. Brave Rebellion and Ballyfitz both have claims but the form of their last time out successes does not match that of New Alco, who is taken to score again.