held up behind leading pair, pecked 1st, took closer order 3 out, ridden and not fluent 2 out, one pace when left 3rd and not fluent last
with leader, hit 2nd, ridden after 2 out, every chance last, kept on but no extra flat
held up behind leading pair, took closer order 3 out, led approaching last, soon ridden, ran on well
tracked leaders, ridden after 3 out, soon beaten
led, rallied well when pressed after 2 out, headed and every chance when fell last
Perle de Puce belied odds of 33/1 when beating Lingo at Ascot last month but the runner-up was not given the best of rides that day and is taken to reverse form with Bourbon Manhattan looking the biggest danger. The last mentioned looked potentially useful when making a winning start to his hurdling career at Aintree in November but disappointed when beaten at odds on by Cetti's Warbler in the soft at Towcester subsequently. The less demanding conditions here should suit but preference is for Lingo. Useful on the flat when with Lynda Ramsden, Jonjo O'Neill's gelding made a highly satisfactory start to his new career when winning at Naas and was given too much to do when allowing Perle De Puce to get first run on him at Ascot last time. The slightly more testing conditions should suit the son of Poliglote, who was much better on a softer surface on the level and the smaller field should allow the five-year-old to use his flat speed to good effect. The Paul Nicholls-trained Garde Champetre has done little wrong so far but this represents a big step up in class for the French-bred gelding, as it does for Marrakech although the daughter of Barathea is another who had some good form on the flat and, like Lingo, will not mind the cut in the ground. However, Lingo is potentially out of the top drawer and looks the one to be on.
