chased leaders, pecked 6th, soon behind, tailed off
held up, headway 12th, ridden after 19th, one pace from next, left 3rd 2 out
close up, tracked leader 10th, pecked 18th, ridden and every chance approaching 3 out, held when left 2nd 2 out
chased leaders, lost place 16th, stayed on again from 2 out
hit 2nd, always behind, tailed off from 10th
close up, not fluent 4 out, led narrowly 3 out, left clear 2 out, ridden out
led, not fluent 15th, narrowly headed 3 out, every chance when fell 2 out
close up, hit 8th, struggling 11th, never dangerous
The classy Le Duc gets our vote here, with Milord Lescribaa and Back Nine the others for the shortlist. The selection was a fair sixth behind Wonderkid at Cheltenham last time over a trip that stretched his stamina to the limit. He is much more at home over this trip and with ground conditions to suit he looks the one to be with. Milord Lescribaa is a viable alternative but he would probably prefer a faster surface and he is finding life tough off this mark. Back Nine ran a sound race in defeat at Fontwell last time behind Thisthatandtother and he does like to get his toe in, so any further rain would certainly play to his strengths. This is a race without a great deal of strength in depth so it would be a surprise if any of the others were good enough, and for the winner we will stick with Le Duc.
Artic Reason (IRE) 50-1 (11-7) Held up, behind from 6th, tailed off when pulled up in race won by Axinit (10-11) at Hereford 2m 4f clm hdl (5) gs, 14 ran.
Back Nine (IRE) 8-1 (11-10) Held up in touch, reminder 8th, ridden approaching 10th, kept on but no chance with winner, 2nd of 5, 10l behind Thisthatandtother (11-11) at Fontwell 2m 4f hts chs (6) sft.
Milord Lescribaa (FR) 4-1jt-fav (11-1) Tracked leaders, ridden 4 out, weakened 2 out, 4th of 10, 14l behind Mcevoy (11-1) at Ludlow 3m amt hcp chs 0-125 (3) gd in Jan.
Amadeus (AUS) 50-1 (11-0) Held up; stayed on frm 3 out; nvr able to chall, 3rd of 12, 12l behind Premium First (11-0) at Chaddesley Corb' 3m ptp gd.
Happy Hussar (IRE) 50-1 (9-6) Tracked leaders, lost place 7th, soon behind, 9th of 15, well behind Time Bandit (11-12) at Chepstow 3m hcp chs 0-95 (5) hvy.
Le Duc (FR) 5-1 (11-3) Held up in rear, mistake 3rd, jumped slowly 5th, mistake 23rd, headway 25th, mistake 5 out, one pace after 3 out, 6th of 16, 10l behind Wonderkid (10-0) at Cheltenham 3m 7f crs cty hcp chs (2) gd in Dec.
Constantius 20-1 (10-4) Mid-division, hampered 3rd, in touch 15th, blundered 3 out, hung right and stayed on same pace between last 2, 3rd of 16, 4l behind Carnt Spell (10-0) at Huntingdon 3m hcp chs 0-100 (4) gs in Dec.
Jamadiel (IRE) 50-1 (11-0) Tracked leaders, weakened 9th, 11th of 14, well behind Le Briar Soul (10-11) at Chepstow 3m beg chs (4) sft in Dec.
