pressed leader, led 3rd until after 5th, not fluent 7th, led next until 3 out, weakened quickly, pulled up after 2 out
not keen and ridden along in last, behind 7th, went remote 3rd before 2 out
tracked leaders, took keen hold, led going well after 3 out, clear approaching last, easily
led until 3rd, led after 5th until not fluent 8th, led 3 out, soon headed, no chance with winner after next
The opening race on the card is only a five runner contest but it has a trappy look about it with all of the field holding live chances if on song. However we feel David Pipe's PAUILLAC is the class horse in the race and he can outpoint Prince De Marais. The selection was once very highly thought of but has obviously been very hard to train. Connections felt he was a graded horse back in 2007 and ran the son of Useful in the Triumph Hurdle. Chasing was always going to be his game and the fitting of first time blinkers suggests connections are going all out for a win. He has a 136 day absence to overcome but has gone well fresh before. Prince De Marais will probably give the selection most to think about but will do well to turn him over if he's back to his best. Caroline Baileys' horse has been pretty inconsistent this season with form figures of 2 P 5 P 2 1 reading from his last six starts. However his last two races have been encouraging and maybe he has turned a corner. Chapel Flowers probably has a little bit more to give as he climbs up the handicap and Green Gamble has gone well fresh before so both should be monitored but if the Pipe horse is back on song he will prove a tough nut to crack.
Green Gamble 9-2 (10-11) Slight lead to 4th, chased leader, ridden 6th, lost 2nd next, soon driven along and lost place, left poor 4th 2 out, tailed off, 4th of 6, well behind Vinmix De Bessy (11-5) at Lingfield 2m hcp chs 0-125 (3) gs in Nov.
Pauillac (FR) 33-1 (11-9) Mid-division, soon not going well, weakened approaching 6th, tailed off, 9th of 15, well behind Cross Kennon (11-7) at Chepstow 3m hcp hdl 0-125 (3) hvy in Dec.
Prince Des Marais (FR) 5-2fav (11-4) Hed up in 4th off furious pace, closed steadily 5th, tracked clear leader next, closed 3 out, led next, in command after, easily, won at Chepstow 2m hcp chs 0-115 (4) gd beating Littleton Aldor (9-11) by 4l, 6 ran.
Tooka 6-1 (10-10) Led, driven 10th, headed 4 out, soon under pressure, mistake 3 out, left in remote 3rd at last, 3rd of 7, 12l behind Power Shared (10-9) at Kempton 2m 4f nov hcp chs 0-115 (4) gd in Mar.
Chapel Flowers (IRE) 8-11fav (11-2) Tracked leader, led 5th, blundered 9th, hit 13th, headed 3 out, weakened approaching next, lost 2nd approaching last, last of 3, 50l behind Viable (10-5) at Huntingdon 2m 4f nov chs 0-115 (4) gd in Mar.
