held up towards rear, not fluent 9th and pushed along, headway 3 out, no impression, left modest 3rd last
chased leaders, fell 4 out
chased leader, not much room 3rd, left challenging 5th, ridden before 4 out, weakened after next
held up in rear on outside, well beaten from 10th
led, jumped right at times, blundered 5th, pecked 7th, pitched on landing 4 out, headed 2 out, 1/2 length down when left clear last
chased leaders, outpaced 10th, closed 3 out, beaten 3rd 2 out, left 2nd last, no impression on winner
chased leaders on outside, challenged 3 out, led 2 out, 1/2 length lead when fell last
My Way didn’t have the pace to win over hurdles but has had wind surgery since last seen and could fare better over fences. Darlac was flattered by his proximity to Tommy Rapper at Fontwell but is entitled to improve and the lightly-raced Samarquand goes well fresh. Legal Eyes may be better handicapped than Full Bore and fellow chasing debutant Sussex Ranger but Barry Geraghty is here for only the one ride on MUSICAL SLAVE (NAP), who completed a hat-trick over hurdles in a very competitive handicap at Punchestown in May and could be an above-average recruit.
Samarquand 6-1 (11-4) Held up towards rear, eased after 4 out, soon pulled up, at Newbury 2m 5f (4) sft in Dec.
Darlac (FR) 6-5 (11-4) Led, hit 2nd, went clear 7th until 10th, mistake next, went right 2 out, headed last, kept on but flattered by proximity to winner, 2nd of 3, nk behind Tommy Rapper (11-4) at Fontwell 2m 6f (4) gd in Oct.
Sussex Ranger (USA) 16-1 (11-6) Chased leaders on outside, steadied after 2nd, struggling 3 out, no impression after, 5th of 9, 24 1/2l behind Potterman (10-12) at Warwick 2m 3f hcp (3) gd in May.
Musical Slave (IRE) 7-1 (11-10) Mid-division, some headway before 2 out and progress between horses to go 4th entering straight, switched left and ridden before last, kept on well run-in to lead final 100 yards, drifted left close home, won at Punchestown 2m 5f hcp Yielding in May beating Conron (11-11) by 1 1/4l, 24 ran.
Legal Eyes (IRE) 9-4fav (11-12) In touch, keen, tracked leader 3rd, led 6th, headed before 2 out, kept on under pressure, 2nd of 7, 1 3/4l behind Arctic Road (10-10) at Bangor-on-Dee 2m 7f hcp (4) gd in Apr.
Full Bore (IRE) 9-4 (11-10) Raced keenly, tracked leaders, outpaced when went left 2 out, soon beaten, 4th of 5, 19l behind Really Super (11-5) at Worcester 2m 4f hcp (3) gd in Aug.
My Way (FR) 4-1 (11-9) Held d up in mid-division, headway chasing leaders 8th, not fluent next, weakened on long to 2 out, 8th of 9, 28 1/2l behind From Eden (11-2) at Ayr 3m hcp (3) gd in Apr.
