always behind, weakened 3 out, tailed off when pulled up before last
tracked leader, driven to challenge 2 out, kept on same pace flat
held up in rear, headway 3 out, chased leaders next, led approaching last, ran on well
chased leaders, hard ridden to challenge 3 out, weakened before last
led, hard driven when strongly challenged 2 out, headed before last, faded flat
mid-division, weakened 3 out
raced keenly in mid-division, headway 2 out, never on terms
always behind, weakened 3 out
mid-division, headway under pressure 3 out, soon no impression
always behind
tracked leaders, under pressure 3 out, weakened next
in touch, progress 3 out, chased leaders after next, ran on towards finish, never reached winner
Four previous C&D winners face the starter here, though Dealing River lacks a recent run and Laudatory enjoyed the run of the race when beating subsequent Wetherby winner Knight In Purple here in March. Rajnagan and Praxiteles were both a little disappointing last time, as was Marchand D'Argent, while Plenty Pocket has been tailed off in his last two starts. Alfraamsey tackles his elders for the first time over hurdles but has been in cracking form on the Flat, though has to give 5lb to DUAISEOIR. Lightly-raced, he can reverse Warwick running with the more exposed Dormouse on better terms and land this for Venetia Williams.
Plenty Pocket (FR) 6-4fav (11-6) Held up, took keen hold, went 4th before 5th, ridden after 3 out, soon weakened, well beaten after next, tailed off, last of 7, well behind Constant Contact (11-0) at Hereford 2m 1f nh nov hdl (4) gd in Mar.
Knight In Purple 7-2fav (11-2) Tracked leaders in 3rd, led after 4 out, pressed from 3 out, ridden before last, kept on well under pressure run-in, won at Wetherby 2m hcp hdl 0-140 (3) gd in May beating Rebel Dancer (10-11) by 3/4l, 10 ran.
Rajnagan (IRE) 7-1 (11-6) Chased leaders, ridden before 2 out, weakened before last, 8th of 9, 30l behind Featherbed Lane (10-11) at Ascot 2m hcp hdl 0-145 (2) gd in Nov.
Praxiteles (IRE) 20-1 (11-3) Mid-division, outpaced 3 out, weakened before next, 11th of 14, 38l behind Laudatory (10-0) at Stratford 2m hcp hdl 0-135 (3) gd in Mar.
Alfraamsey 5-1 (11-9) Led, clear before 2 out, soon pressed, headed before last, kept on, 2nd of 5, 4l behind Luggers Hall (10-10) at Kempton 2m Juvenile Handicap Hurdle (0-125) (4yo) (3) gd in Apr.
Duaiseoir (IRE) 6-1 (11-4) Chased leaders until ridden and lost place 6th, rallied and hung left under pressure before 2 out, went 3rd before last, 3rd of 7, 6l behind Charminster (11-12) at Warwick 2m hcp hdl 0-130 (3) gd in May.
Dealing River 10-1 (11-2) In touch, ridden before 3out, soon one paced, 3rd of 12, 16l behind World Heritage (10-12) at Stratford 2m nh nov hdl (4) gf in Sep.
King Brex (DEN) 66-1 (10-10) Never better than mid-division, 18th of 23, well behind Decoy (11-6) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-125 (3) gd in Nov.
Laudatory 5-1 (10-0) In touch, headway after 3 out, challenged on inside next, soon ridden, led last, held on under pressure flat, won at Stratford 2m hcp hdl 0-135 (3) gd in Mar beating Knight In Purple (10-11) by 1/2l, 14 ran.
Dormouse 9-4fav (10-7) Held up in last pair, headway approaching 3 out, chased winner 2 out, no impression before last, 2nd of 7, 2 3/4l behind Charminster (11-12) at Warwick 2m hcp hdl 0-130 (3) gd in May.
Big Robert 6-1 (11-7) Held up in last trio, struggling after 4th, tailed off 3 out, last of 7, well behind Rampant Ronnie (11-1) at Bangor 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-120 (3) gd in Sep.
Marchand D'argent (FR) 6-4fav (11-11) Mid-division, not fluent, headway on outside when mistake 3 out, every chance before 2 out, weakened flat, 7th of 11, 12l behind Prankster (10-12) at Market Rasen 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gd in May.
