held up behind, headway before 3 out, chased winner between last 2, ridden and one pace flat
raced keenly, with leader, led 4th, made rest, ridden and stayed on well flat
tracked leaders, effort after 3 out, not fluent next, soon ridden and one pace, no impression in 4th flat
tracked leaders, driven 3 out, soon ridden and lost place, weakened next
mid-division, lost place when mistake 3 out, soon weakened, tailed off
led, mistake 3rd, headed next, lost place after 3 out, weakened before next
mid-division, lost place 4 out, weakened before 2 out, tailed off
held up behind, headway after 3 out, driven to chase leaders next, ridden between last 2, went 3rd and kept on flat, no impression
held up in rear, headway and in touch 3 out, chased winner and every chance when mistake next, soon lost place, weakened flat
DINO VELVET won a Class 2 race at Sandown before getting outpaced in the Finale Hurdle at Chepstow. His trainer Alan King should have a good line on Don Bersy as the latter had to be ridden out to beat his Coeur De Lion at Sandown earlier this month when receiving 6lb. Alcanar and Black Buble were both behind in that contest and look held and Tom Symonds’ juvenile looks the danger ahead of the mare Hestina. She found yet another King inmate, Giveaway Glance, much too strong at Doncaster last month when favourite.
Dino Velvet (FR) 12-1 (11-0) Took keen hold, tracked leaders, dropped to last and well beaten after 4 out, went remote 4th before 2 out, 4th of 5, 28l behind Defi Du Seuil (11-0) at Chepstow 2m (1) sft in Dec.
Don Bersy (FR) 7-1 (10-12) Tracked leading trio, 2nd travelling well before 2 out, led 2 out, ridden and stayed on strongly run-in, won at Sandown 2m (3) sft in Jan beating Coeur de Lion (11-4) by 1 1/2l, 7 ran.
Alcanar (USA) 66-1 (10-12) Held up in last pair, blundered and stumbled badly 3rd, jumped slowly and reminders next, headway approaching 2 out, plugged on into modest 3rd after 2 out, 3rd of 7, 24 1/2l behind Don Bersy (10-12) at Sandown 2m (3) sft in Jan.
Aristocles (IRE) 40-1 (10-12) With leader, reminder after 6th, ridden before 2 out, weakened last, 5th of 9, 15 3/4l behind Rainbow Dreamer (10-12) at Fontwell 2m 2f (4) gd in Dec.
Banff (IRE) 66-1 (10-12) Held up in rear, pushed along after 4th, weakened before 2 out, 6th of 8, 31 1/4l behind Long Call (10-12) at Hereford 2m mdn (5) hvy in Jan.
Black Buble (FR) 125-1 (10-12) Took keen hold, tracked leaders, pushed along after 3 out, weakened before next, 5th of 7, dist behind Don Bersy (10-12) at Sandown 2m (3) sft in Jan.
Josh Perry 16-1 (9-4) Keen, close up, effort on outer over 2f out, ridden and every chance over 1f out, weakened final furlong, 10th of 14, 6 1/2l behind Master Of Heaven (9-2) at Chelmsford City 1m 2f hcp (7) pol in Dec.
Landin (GER) (8-13) last of 5, 5l behind Santano (8-13) at Deauville 1m 4f stks pol in Aug.
Hestina (FR) 6-4fav (10-12) Held up in rear, headway on outside chasing leaders approaching 3 out, 2nd soon after 2 out, no chance with easy winner, 2nd of 10, 12l behind Giveaway Glance (10-12) at Doncaster 2m 1f mdn fll (4) gs in Dec.
