held up in touch in mid-division, closed from 3rd, 2nd when hit 3 out, soon ridden, weakened before next
led until before 3rd, not fluent 4th, ridden 3 out, every chance next, 2 lengths down last, edged left flat, stayed on towards finish, just held
held up in rear, not fluent 1st, mistake next, ridden 5th, no impression, modest 5th after 3 out
tracked leaders, not fluent 1st or 2nd, carried right 3rd, lost place before 3 out
jumped right, with leader, led before 3rd, ridden approaching 2 out, 2 lengths ahead last, driven flat, held on
held up in rear, jumped slowly 3rd, struggling before next, soon behind
held up towards rear, mistake 2nd, struggling 5th, soon behind
tracked leaders on inside, close 3rd when jumped right and awkward 2 out, stayed on same pace after
Alzammaar, Solo Hunter and Ultimate Act were of similar ability on the Flat but the former has the edge in experience over hurdles having already been placed twice around here. His latest third behind Chatez was a fair effort and he seems sure to be thereabouts again. The filly Tea In Transvaal kept on well at Sandown considering she pulled hard but she barely got a mile on the Flat and Irish import Very Intense has been well beaten in both starts over timber. MANTOU eventually wore down Giota Di Vita at Catterick and is likely to stay further in time. But this will be a test in the conditions and he can defy his penalty.
Mantou (IRE) 3-1 (10-7) Prominent, led before last, headed narrowly run-in, kept on to regain lead post, won at Catterick 2m mdn hdl (4) gs in Dec beating Gioia Di Vita (11-6) by ns, 13 ran.
Alzammaar (USA) 10-1 (10-12) Held up in mid-division, headway approaching 4th, outpaced when jumped left 2 out, went 3rd and stayed on flat, 3rd of 13, 5l behind Chatez (11-5) at Warwick 2m 3yo hdl (4) sft in Dec.
Solo Hunter 7-2 (9-2) Tracked leaders in 3rd, pushed along and weakened over 2f out, 6th of 8, 7l behind Geordan Murphy (9-4) at Windsor 1m hcp 0-75 (5) sft in Oct (flat).
Tactical Strike 20-1 (9-3) Led, joined halfway, headed over 3f out, soon ridden and lost place, behind over 1f out, last of 8, 20l behind Ballyfarsoon (8-7) at Wolverhampton 1m 6f hcp 0-60 (6) in Dec (flat).
Ultimate Act 10-1 (8-3) Close up, ridden over 3f out, kept on one pace final furlong, 4th of 12, 2l behind Nabatean (9-5) at Nottingham 1m 6f hcp (4) gs in Oct (flat).
Va Benny 66-1 (8-5) Prominent, ridden halfway, hung left over 2f out, soon weakened, 9th of 13, 28l behind Venus Marina (8-12) at Yarmouth 7f 3yo hcp 0-55 (6) gd in Aug (flat).
Very Intense (IRE) 10-3fav (10-12) Took keen hold tracking leaders on inside, mistake 3 out, beaten before blundered and stumbled badly next, soon eased, tailed off, 6th of 8, well behind Officer Drivel (11-5) at Kempton 2m 4yo hdl (4) sft.
Tea In Transvaal (IRE) 25-1 (10-5) Took keen hold, held up in rear, mistake 5th, headway into modest 3rd 2 out, kept on same pace, 3rd of 6, 12l behind Arabian Revolution (10-12) at Sandown 2m 4yo hdl (3) sft.
