made all, clear until jumped slowly 6th, not fluent 2 out, clear last, stayed on well
held up in rear, went 3rd after 4th, chased winner approaching 3 out, ridden and hung left before 2 out, no impression from last
took keen hold, left tracking winner 1st, not fluent 3rd, lost 2nd before 3 out, soon beaten
chasing winner when swerved left and unseated rider 1st
held up, outpaced 6th, soon behind, pulled up before 2 out
held up, took keen hold, left 3rd from 1st until after 4th, weakened approaching 2 out
This looks a straight match between BATTLE BORN and Champagne At Tara. Both were very decent performers in bumpers and the latter has already had a couple of tries over hurdles, finishing third at Sandown on his debut in December. But he hasn't raced since Boxing Day and we prefer Charlie Longsdon's charge, who was sixth at Aintree in April in a Grade 2 that's already produced a couple of winners over timber. L'Amiral David probably has a future but finished five lengths behind Kibo in a Huntingdon bumper in April. Grande Antarctique may need further than this over hurdles.
Battle Born 11-2 (11-4) Led, headed over 3f out, weakened entering final furlong, 6th of 19, 8l behind Ballybolley (11-4) at Aintree 2m 1f G2 NH flat (1) gs in Apr.
Champagne At Tara 4-1 (11-0) Pulled very hard in rear, never dangerous, modest 5th, 5th of 7, 22l behind Amore Alato (11-8) at Kempton 2m nh nov hdl (2) sft in Dec.
Diego Suarez (FR) 80-1 (10-10) Held up mid-division, weakened from 3 out, tailed off, 8th of 10, 38l behind Vyta Du Roc (11-0) at Uttoxeter 2m mdn hdl (5) gd in May.
Grande Antarctique (FR) 7-2 (10-13) Held up in mid-division, headway chasing leaders over 4f out, ridden and one pace in 3rd over 2f out, went 2nd inside final furlong, no chance with winner, 2nd of 11, 6l behind One Track Mind (10-13) at Wetherby 2m NH flat (6) gs in Apr.
Kibo 20-1 (10-12) Held up in rear, took keen hold, headway on outside 6f out, ridden 2f out, outpaced and no impression over 1f out, 6th of 10, 5l behind Run On Sterling (11-3) at Huntingdon 2m NH flat (6) gd in Apr.
L'Amiral David (FR) 3-1fav (10-12) Tracked leaders, stayed in touch but lost several places 8f out, ridden and outpaced over 2f out, weakened over 1f out, 7th of 10, 10l behind Run On Sterling (11-3) at Huntingdon 2m NH flat (6) gd in Apr.
