tracked leading pair on inside, 2nd approaching and mistake 2 out, no chance with winner after
never that fluent, held up last, jumped slowly 4th, pushed along and struggling after 3 out, ridden and beaten well before next, eased and soon pulled up
led, mistake 1st, wandered and jinked right briefly bend after 3 out, ridden and headed before 2 out, soon lost 2nd, kept on same pace in 3rd
took keen hold, tracked leading trio, pushed along before 3 out, ridden and weakened before next
tracked leader, stepped at 2nd, led before 2 out, soon clear, hit last, stayed on strongly, ridden out, easily
held up in 5th, pushed along in 4th approaching 2 out, no impression when hit last
A strong renewal of this Grade 1, won last year by subsequent Neptune Investment winner Yorkhill. A few of these will also have Cheltenham aspirations including Capitaine, who bounced back from an unexpected reverse at Haydock to land a Grade 2 at Ascot when easy to back. Finian's Oscar went into several notebooks when sauntering clear at Hereford before Christmas but this is a big step up in class and a drop in distance. Charlemar has won both starts over hurdles and was impressive at Aintree but we’ll take a chance that CHALONNIAL finds the necessary improvement to get competitive. He was very green when landing an ordinary Bangor event last month but still won with any amount in hand and will know more today. Former pointer Global Stage and Celestial Path are making their hurdling debuts in exalted company but the latter was a 100-plus handicapper on the Flat for Sir Mark Prescott and could be useful if taking to jumping.
Capitaine (FR) 9-1 (11-7) Jumped well, raced keenly, made all, clear after 2nd until 3 out, ridden and pressed between last two, forged clear from last, stayed on strongly, driven out, won at Ascot 2m (1) gs in Dec beating Captain Forez (11-0) by 3 1/2l, 6 ran.
Celestial Path (IRE) 20-1 (9-4) Mid-division stands side, driven to chase leaders over 2f out, kept on same pace, no impression final furlong, 6th of 31, 6 1/2l behind Spark Plug (9-4) at Newmarket 1m 1f hcp (2) gf in Sep.
Chalonnial (FR) 7-1 (10-12) Tracked leader 1st, jumped left next, led before 4 out, clear last, pushed out, won at Bangor 2m 1f (4) sft in Dec beating Santo De Lune (10-12) by 2 3/4l, 18 ran.
Charlemar (FR) 11-4 (11-4) Tracked leader, led before 2nd, ridden approaching last, clear flat, stayed on well, won at Aintree 2m 1f (3) gs in Dec beating Minotaur (10-12) by 4 1/2l, 6 ran.
Finian's Oscar (IRE) 11-4 (10-12) Tracked leaders, 2nd going well 8th, led 2 out, clear before last, easily, won at Hereford 2m 6f (4) sft in Dec beating Acting Lass (11-4) by 7l, 11 ran.
Global Stage 5-1 (11-2) Held up in touch on outer, led over 3f out, 2nd of 11, 1 3/4l behind Claimantakinforgan (11-2) at Haydock 2m (4) hvy in Nov.
