led, left clear at 4th, reduced lead and pushed along home turn, joined and and hit 2 out, ridden and headed when awkward last, kept on run-in until no extra inside final 100 yards
tracked leaders in 4th, left in 3rd place and slightly hampered at 4th, went 2nd next, upsides 2 out, led narrowly last, ridden and stayed on run-in to assert inside final 100 yards
mistake 1st, always last, hit 2nd, outpaced when hit next, tailed off, blundered 2 out, pulled up
chased leading pair, left in 2nd and badly hampered 4th, dropped to 3rd next, driven and stayed on same pace from 2 out, no chance with leading duo
raced keenly, pressing leader when fell heavily 4th
Khan was a Group 1 winner on the Flat in Germany but has fallen in two of three previous tries over timber. Natural History, second in last year’s Group 3 St Simon’s Stakes at Newbury, was surprisingly beaten on his hurdles bow here but it was only by half-a-length and he would probably have won had his jumping been a little more slick. He deserves another chance but AHORSEWITHNONAME ran a cracker when second in a Listed mares’ race at Newbury on her jumping debut and she may have just needed that outing. Sheldon didn’t do much wrong when third at Chepstow and Warwick third Balkardy also has scope.
John Betjeman 15-2 (11-5) Led until after 1st, chased winner until after 3 out, weakening when blundered next, 8th of 14, 30l behind Sopat (10-12) at Fakenham 2m mdn (4) sft in Jan.
Khan (GER) 9-1 (11-5) Led 3f, chased leader until 9f out, chased leaders, pushed along over 5f out, weakened soon after, 5th of 7, 27l behind Glory And Honour (11-5) at Lingfield 2m (4) pol in Jan.
Lep 125-1 (11-5) Always behind, tailed off and pulled up before 2 out, at Plumpton 2m mdn (4) sft in Jan.
Balkardy (FR) 33-1 (10-12) Towards rear, headway approaching 5th, no impression on leaders before 2 out, went 3rd approaching last, 3rd of 9, 7 1/2l behind Hamilton Dici (10-12) at Warwick 2m mdn (4) sft in Dec.
Glass Of Bubbles (IRE) 20-1 (9-9) Midfield, ridden for effort over 4f out, weakened from 3f out, 8th of 10, 34 1/4l behind Straight Ash (8-13) at Southwell 1m 3f hcp (6) pol in Dec.
Natural History 4-6fav (11-5) Pulled hard, tracked leaders, tracked leader when went clear after 2nd, closer 3 out, led 2 out, headed and no extra towards finish, 2nd of 11, 1/2l behind Gericault Roque (11-5) at Plumpton 2m mdn (4) sft in Jan.
Entre Deux (FR) 100-1 (11-2) Midfield, headway when niggled along after 3 out, ridden before 2 out, soon no impression, 6th of 15, dist behind Flash Collonges (11-8) at Wincanton 2m 5f (4) gs in Jan.
On The Rise (IRE) 25-1 (11-7) Prom to 7; wknd 11, 4th of 11, 29 1/2l behind Salt Of The Earth (11-7) at Barbury Racecourse 2m 4f mdn gs in Dec.
Picturesque View (IRE) 11-1 (11-2) Chased leaders on inside, slightly lost place before 5th, slightly hampered by faller 4 out, pushed along and weakened next, 4th of 9, 26 1/4l behind Brown Bullet (10-9) at Plumpton 2m (4) sft in Jan.
Sheldon (IRE) 12-1 (10-12) Mid-division, not much room bend after 1st, headway before 3 out, 3rd when mistake 2 out, mistake last, edged right towards finish, stayed on, 3rd of 11, 2 1/4l behind Witness Protection (11-5) at Chepstow 2m (4) sft in Jan.
Ahorsewithnoname 9-2 (11-0) Held up off the pace in 5th, hit 3 out, pushed along and outpaced soon after, plugging on in 4th when dived at the last, kept on run-in, went 2nd final strides, no chance with winner, 2nd of 8, 3 1/2l behind Pink Sheets (11-0) at Newbury 2m lst (1) gd in Nov.
Doyen Queen (IRE) 200-1 (10-12) Midfield, ridden and lost touch after 3 out, no extra, 9th of 16, 24 1/2l behind On To Victory (11-5) at Wincanton 1m 7f mdn (4) gs in Jan.
