pressed leader, mistake 3rd, led after 6th, headed when fell 2 out
tracked leaders, not fluent 6th or 9th, jumped slowly 11th, soon well behind, tailed off before next, pulled up after
led until after 6th, not fluent 10th, ridden and lost place before 12th, weakened 14th
held up, mistake 1st, headway 9th, driven 3 out, about 3 lengths 3rd when left 2nd 2 out, no impression on winner, stayed on same pace
prominent when awkward 1st, soon hampered and lost place, raced in touch towards rear after, mistake 2nd, bumped when effort 13th, went 2nd next, led when left clear 2 out, stayed on, comfortably
tracked leaders, went 2nd after 8th, jumped right next, ridden after 11th, bumped 13th, outpaced next, soon weakened, pulled up before 2 out
held up in rear, mistake 3rd, headway 13th, pushed along next, staying on same pace when left 3rd and hampered 2 out, no impression on winner
Nonrunner
Horatio Hornblower was lightly campaigned in his first season over fences but won at Towcester on Boxing Day and wasn't disgraced in two runs after. He should be winning again soon but lacks a recent outing. So do Off The Ground, Bucking The Trend and Gallery Exhibition and while Urcalin's form figures are impressive, he'll need more to figure in this grade. American Legend won at Worcester in July but was no match for Buacahill Alainn on a return visit to that course in August off today's mark. TALES OF MILAN has had a couple of pipe-openers over hurdles and should now be ready to do himself justice. He likes to force the pace so will expose any fitness issues among his rivals.
Off The Ground (IRE) 40-1 (11-0) Last pair in rear and jumped badly left from 10th, tailed off and pulled up 16th, at Sandown 2m 6f lst (1) gd in Apr.
Gallery Exhibition (IRE) 7-1 (11-4) Held up in touch, weakened before 5 out, 8th of 10, dist behind Champion Court (11-12) at Kempton 3m hcp (3) gd in May.
Perfect Timing 14-1 (10-0) Tracked leaders, ridden and outpaced before 3 out, weakened from next, 6th of 12, 25l behind Standing Ovation (10-0) at Newton Abbot 2m 5f hcp (1) gs in Aug.
Horatio Hornblower (IRE) 11-2 (10-11) Chased leading pair, 2nd 5th until 9th, chased leaders, mistake 11th, driven in 4th before 2 out, kept on same pace run-in, 4th of 8, 4 3/4l behind The Skyfarmer (10-12) at Newbury 3m hcp (3) gd in Mar.
Urcalin (FR) 3-1 (11-6) Tracked winner until 9th, outpaced 4 out, left 2nd 2 out, no impression, 2nd of 4, 15l behind Indian Stream (10-13) at Southwell 3m (4) gd in Sep.
Tales Of Milan (IRE) 16-1 (11-7) Mid-division, outpaced 8th, 9th and well beaten 3 out, 8th of 13, dist behind Mr Shantu (11-12) at Warwick 3m 2f hcp (4) gd in Sep.
American Legend (IRE) 7-4fav (10-6) Held up behind in touch, headway 11th, effort on inside when not fluent 3 out, soon ridden, stayed on to take 2nd flat, no chance with winner, 2nd of 7, 9l behind Buachaill Alainn (10-6) at Worcester 2m 7f hcp (3) gd in Aug.
Bucking The Trend 7-2 (11-4) Tracked winner, led 5 out, not fluent 3 out, headed run-in, rallied and kept on towards finish, 2nd of 4, 1/2l behind Pinerolo (11-4) at Newcastle 3m (2) hvy in Feb.
