mid-division in touch, went 4th before 4th, challenged 2 out, led narrowly between last 2, ridden and headed narrowly flat, kept on, just held
tracked leaders, went 2nd at 3rd, led before 2 out, headed narrowly between last 2, ridden and rallied to regain narrow lead flat, just held on
tracked leaders, ridden and effort approaching 2 out, outpaced in 3rd between last 2, no impression with front pair before last
raced keenly, hit 3 out, headed before next, soon weakened
mid-division, chased leaders under pressure after 3 out, no impression from next
held up towards rear, headway after 3 out, chased leaders under pressure next, kept on same pace, no impression
held up behind, outpaced 3 out, never on terms
mid-division, dropped towards rear before 3rd, mistake next, ridden and weakened 3 out, tailed off
held up in rear, outpaced 3 out, never dangerous
mid-division, hit 3rd, outpaced 3 out, soon weakened
tracked leader to 3rd, lost place next, no danger after
OZETA, winner of a Listed contest at Auteuil last September for Elie Lellouche, was set a stiff task on her debut for Nicky Henderson at Cheltenham. The filly was far from disgraced in finishing fifth to Hinterland, however, only weakening at the last and she's been given plenty of time to get over her exertions. This should be within her range. Fire Fighter had Edgware Road back in third and Marie Des Anges further behind when getting off the mark at Warwick, but he may not come into his own until tackling longer trips while Ludlow second Corsican Boy and Chepstow scorer Mattoral need to improve significantly to figure here. Kapga De Cerisy has his sights lowered after finishing fourth in the Finale at Chepstow and can't be ignored however.
Fire Fighter (IRE) 8-11fav (11-0) Mid-division, headway approaching 3rd, challenged 3 out, led next, shaken up and in command when pitched badly on landing last, ridden and ran on well flat, won at Warwick 2m 4yo mdn hdl (4) gs in Jan beating Black Pond (11-0) by 4l, 12 ran.
Kapga De Cerisy (FR) 12-1 (11-0) Held up mid-division, headway halfway, soon chasing leaders, mistake 4 out, weakened after next, moderate 4th when mistake last, 4th of 9, 33l behind Hollow Tree (11-0) at Chepstow 2m 3yo hdl Grd 1 (1) hvy in Dec.
Mattoral 14-1 (10-7) Tracked leader, led 2nd, headed next, led again 4 out, ridden 2 out, narrowly headed when left well clear last, won at Chepstow 2m 4yo hdl (4) hvy in Jan beating The Right Time (10-2) by 16l, 7 ran.
Corsican Boy 11-4fav (10-12) Tracked leaders, pushed along after 6th, switched left to challenge when bumped just before 3 out, led next, soon edged left, driven flat, headed towards finish, 2nd of 10, 1 1/2l behind Memorabilia (10-7) at Ludlow 2m 4yo mdn hdl (5) gs in Jan.
Edgware Road 25-1 (11-0) Led, wandered approaching 1st and 2nd, mistake and reminders next, headed 2 out, no impression on winner when demoted to 2nd flat, no extra towards finish, 3rd of 12, 6l behind Fire Fighter (11-0) at Warwick 2m 4yo mdn hdl (4) gs in Jan.
Mahayogin (USA) 7-2 (9-3) In touch in mid-division, outpaced over 2f out, no impression, 6th of 12, 18l behind Jameel (9-0) at Pontefract 1m 2f mdn stks (5) gf in Sep (flat).
Ozeta (FR) 15-8 (10-13) Tracked leaders, not fluent 1st, went 2nd after 5th, challenged 3 out until not fluent next, no extra last, 5th of 9, 14l behind Hinterland (11-6) at Cheltenham 2m 3yo hdl (1) gs in Nov.
State Senator (USA) 11-1 (10-12) Keen early, held up mid-division, lost place after 5th, soon beaten, 8th of 11, 45l behind Sadler's Risk (10-12) at Kempton 2m 4yo hdl (4) gd in Jan.
Swaninstockwell (IRE) 13-2 (10-12) Chased leading trio, went 3rd after 5th, no chance with leading duo next, poor 3rd when went right and blundered last, weakened to 4th close home, 4th of 6, 40l behind One Lucky Lady (10-5) at Folkestone 2m 1f 4yo mdn hdl (4) sft in Jan.
Tadabeer 16-1 (11-0) In rear, jumped slowly 3rd, slow and not fluent next, soon lost touch, 9th of 12, 34l behind Fire Fighter (11-0) at Warwick 2m 4yo mdn hdl (4) gs in Jan.
Marie Des Anges (FR) 125-1 (10-7) Held up in mid-division, jumped right 1st, not fluent 4th, headway approaching next, outpaced by leaders after 3 out, 6th and well held when mistake last, 6th of 12, 18l behind Fire Fighter (11-0) at Warwick 2m 4yo mdn hdl (4) gs in Jan.