held up on outside, closed 4th, mistake and pushed along next, pushed along after 4 out, outpaced when not fluent 3 out, weakening when jumped left 2 out
chased leaders, went 2nd 3rd, led 4 out, headed before 3 out, led and hit 2 out, not fluent and headed last, rallied flat, joined leader post
held up, closed 4th, not much room before 2 out, every chance flat, driven flat, 3rd and no extra towards finish
chased leader until mistake 3rd, mistake next, not fluent 4 out, led before 3 out, mistake and headed 2 out, no extra flat
led, not fluent 3rd, headed 4 out, weakened before next
held up, closed 4th, not much room and switched right before 2 out, led last, ridden flat, joined post
MONMIRAL is the only one of these not to have raced in last year’s renewal. One of last season’s leading juvenile hurdlers, he won all four outings for Paul Nicholls culminating in a Grade 1 victory at Aintree and the Champion Hurdle entry should prove even stronger this year. Last year’s race went the way of Epatante, who has leading claims again given she beat Sceau Royal by over four lengths and the latter had the measure of Silver Streak at Kempton last month. Not So Sleepy unseated at the first last term though went on to land a Grade 3 handicap at Ascot but Voix Du Reve looks up against it once more.
Monmiral (FR) 10-11fav (11-0) Tracked leaders, went 2nd 3 out, challenged 2 out, soon led, 1 length ahead when nearest rival when made mistake last, ridden and stayed on strongly to draw clear flat, won at Aintree 2m 1f (1) gs in Apr beating Adagio (11-0) by 7 1/2l, 6 ran.
Not So Sleepy 5-1 (10-0) Raced keenly tracking leaders out wide, pushed along in 2nd and every chance 2f out, ridden and one pace in 3rd over 1f out, stayed on into 2nd final strides, no chance with winner, 2nd of 7, 1 1/2l behind Postileo (9-9) at Doncaster 1m 7f hcp (2) sft in Oct.
Sceau Royal (FR) 4-5fav (11-6) Held up behind leaders, smooth progress between horses to lead 2 out, drew clear before last, ridden, won at Wincanton 1m 7f (1) gd in Nov beating Teqany (11-0) by 5 1/2l, 6 ran.
Silver Streak (IRE) 4-6fav (11-6) (not jump well)tracked leader, ridden to lead 2 out, headed approaching next, kept on one pace, 2nd of 4, 3 1/2l behind Sceau Royal (11-6) at Kempton 2m lst (1) gd in Oct.
Voix Du Reve (FR) 10-1 (11-2) Raced keenly, chased leader from 2nd, jumped right and not fluent 3rd, mistake 8t, weakened after 3 out, last of 7, 29 1/2l behind Before Midnight (10-3) at Cheltenham 2m hcp (2) gd in Oct.
Epatante (FR) 9-2 (11-7) Mid-division, 5th 3 out, pushed along in 4th 2 out, ridden in moderate 5th entering straight, 3rd at last, kept on one pace, 3rd of 8, 12 1/4l behind Honeysuckle (11-7) at Punchestown 2m (1) Yielding in Apr.
