led to 2nd, tracked leader, led 4th, clear 6th, driven and held on under pressure flat
held up, steady headway 6th, weakened next, fell 2 out
pulled hard, mistake 1st, led next, headed 6th, weakened quickly, pulled up before last
tracked leaders, chased winner 6th to after 3 out, stayed on same pace from next
held up, steady headway from 3 out, ridden to dispute fourth place when not fluent next, no impression
jumped poorly, held up, blundered 2nd and not jumped well after, weakened under pressure 3 out
chased leaders, weakened 6th, tailed off and pulled up before 2 out
held up, not fluent 6th, headway to chase winner after 3 out, stayed on under pressure flat
pulled hard, held up, hit 5th, stayed on from 3 out to dispute 4th 2 out, weakened
in touch until hit 3rd, under pressure 3 out, no chance when hampered 2 out
held up, weakened 6th, tailed off when refused 2 out
Nonrunner
Not the strongest of handicap hurdles and could fall to The Castilian, New Time and Dishdasha are also expected to run well. Martin Pipe's three-year-old has shown plenty of promise in all his races to date and he is now learning to settle thanks to the new fitted visor. He gets in here on a very handy mark and should be there or thereabouts. New Time showed improved form to win first time out this season and there may be plenty more to come from Jonjo O'Neill's charge. Dishdasha caused a bit of a shock when winning last time and the handicapper hasn't overreacted so he has to be considered a threat to all. Alekhine is from a yard in great form and may do best of the others, but in a pretty modest event, The Castilian should be good enough to land first rize.
Madison de Vonnas (FR) 9-1 (11-3) Chased leader, ridden 3 out, weakened approaching 2 out, 7th of 8, well behind Alikat (11-6) at Taunton 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-115 (D) gf in Apr.
Tignasse (FR) 9-1 (11-3) Held up in touch, ridden behind leaders approaching 2 out, stayed on same pace, 3rd of 7, 4l behind Looks The Business (10-9) at Wincanton 2m hcp hdl 0-110 (E) frm.
Mariday 16-1 (10-9) Held up last, ridden approaching 8th and outpaced, plugged on same pace from last, 4th of 8, 24l behind Yourman (11-12) at Fontwell 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-110 (E) gf in Sept.
The Rip 11-2 (11-8) In touch, ridden approaching 2 out, soon weakened, 10th of 18, 35l behind Poor Tactic's (11-7) at Perth 2m hcp hdl (F) gd in May.
Alekhine (IRE) 11-8fav (10-10) Held up mid-division, headway on bit after 3 out, ridden approaching 2 out, not quicken, 5th of 9, 15l behind Nesnaas (10-13) at Wincanton 2m nov hcp hdl 0-100 (E) frm.
The Castilian (FR) 15-2 (10-12) Pulled early and held up in touch, ridden and chased leader approaching 2 out, mistake 2 out and last, not quicken, 2nd of 7, 4l behind Palace Walk (10-12) at Wincanton 2m 3yo nov hdl (E) frm.
Dishdasha (IRE) 40-1 (10-12) Held up in last, steady headway approaching 3 out, led flat, ridden out, won at Huntingdon 2m 3yo nov hdl (E) gf in Sept beating Time For You (10-5) by 1 1/2l, 17 ran.
New Time (IRE) 13-8fav (11-1) Held up, headway 8th, led approaching 3 out, all out, won at Towcester 2m 5f nov hcp hdl 0-105 (E) gf beating Romany Dream (10-2) by a nk, 5 ran.
