led, pressed from 2 out, ridden before last, kept on and headed towards finish
always towards rear, weakened after 2 out
held up towards rear, ridden before 2 out, headway before last, kept on to take 3rd place towards finish
tracked leader, ridden to challenge 2 out, kept on to lead towards finish
tracked leaders in 3rd, ridden and weakened before last
held up in rear, weakened before 3 out, tailed off
Dual bumper winner Burlington Bert has changed stables since a beaten favourite on his hurdling debut at Bangor last November. An Fear Ciuin and Skeaping have both had plenty of chances and have become expensive to follow while Nuova Scuola showed little on the Flat. Hey Listen has yet to complete a race under Rules so this can go to STRAIT OF MAGELLAN, who was second twice behind decent novices at Market Rasen and Ayr last autumn and still has time on his side.
An Fear Ciuin (IRE) 7-4fav (11-2) Chased leader, pushed along and every chance when hit 2 out, hit last, weakened flat, 4th of 8, 7l behind Ebony Rose (10-9) at Perth 2m 4f mdn (4) gs in Aug.
Burlington Bert (FR) 11-10fav (10-12) Tracked winner until ridden approaching 2 out, kept on same pace, 3rd of 6, 26l behind Mr Mcgo (10-12) at Bangor 2m 1f (4) sft in Nov.
Hey Listen (IRE) 8-1 (11-2) Reminder after 2nd, towards rear, struggling 7th, lost touch 3 out, tailed off when pulled up before last, at Hexham 2m 7f mdn (5) gd in May.
Sir Tommy 16-1 (10-12) Chased leaders, not fluent 3rd, weakened next, behind when pulled up before 3 out, at Perth 2m (4) gd in Aug.
Skeaping 6-1 (11-7) Tracked leader, mistake at 3rd, 4th after 6th, dropped to 6th after 3 out, bad mistake in 5th 2 out, soon ridden, kept on one pace in 6th run-in, 6th of 14, 15 1/4l behind Successor (11-7) at Wexford 2m mdn gd in Sep.
Strait Of Magellan (IRE) 15-2 (11-11) Prominent, went 2nd from 3 out, challenged next, ridden and weakened before last, 10th of 11, dist behind Lord Ballim (11-5) at Carlisle 2m 1f hcp (4) gs in Feb.
Nuova Scuola 40-1 (8-2) Mid-division, weakened over 3f out, 7th of 8, 17 3/4l behind Chebsey Beau (9-7) at Ayr 1m 7f hcp (6) gd in Aug.