tended to jump left, led until 3 out, chased winner, ridden and no impression before next
took keen hold, sometimes jumped right, raced wide tracking leading pair, awkward 3rd, not fluent 8th, every chance when blundered and unseated rider 3 out
tracked leader until hit 4th and dropped to rear, reminder before 9th, never on terms after, left poor 3rd 3 out, blundered next
mostly jumped well, held up tracking leaders, jumped slowly 2nd, 2nd at 4th, led 3 out, pushed readily clear before 2 out
Seventh Sky has been cleverly placed to win four times over fences considering he struggled to win over hurdles. But he'll need a career-best if he's to land the hat-trick having collected a penalty for last week's victory over a longer trip at Musselburgh. Cash And Go ran well in good company over hurdles last spring and looks fairly treated on his chasing bow. He could be thereabouts if fully wound-up but Donald McCain has a terrific strike-rate with the few runners he sends to this track and KINGS BANDIT (NAP), very progressive last year, can make a winning reappearance. He's always looked like a chaser in the making and will have been well schooled. Traffic Fluide has been highly tried in both starts so far over fences in this country and adds to a fascinating contest.
Seventh Sky (GER) 11-4 (11-8) Led and jumped left throughout, headed after 5 out, regained lead 3 out, clear before 2 out, eased run-in, won at Musselburgh 2m 4f nov chs (3) gd beating Yorkist (11-8) by 19l, 5 ran.
Cash And Go (IRE) 5-1 (11-10) Mid-division, not fluent 5th, headway from 3 out, went 2nd flat, stayed on same pace, no chance with winner, 2nd of 9, 8l behind L'unique (11-12) at Sandown 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-145 (2) gs in Apr.
Kings Bandit (IRE) 1-2fav (11-11) Made all, ridden when pressed approaching 2 out, wandered approaching last, kept on under pressure, won at Taunton 2m 3f nh nov hdl (4) gd in Apr beating King Edmund (10-13) by 2 1/4l, 12 ran.
Traffic Fluide (FR) 9-4fav (10-4) Tracked leader until hit 1st, tracked leaders, went 2nd again 8th, led briefly 10th, pushed along to lead approaching 2 out, headed approaching last, one pace flat, 2nd of 5, 1 1/2l behind Kings Lad (11-7) at Ascot 2m 3f nov hcap ch (3) sft in Jan.
