tracked leader, led 4 out, ridden and headed next, weakened last
held up, headway 4 out, led next, ridden and ran on
held up, headway 3 out, ridden next, chase winner flat, kept on
led, headed 7th, tracked leaders, ridden 4 out, weakened 2 out
raced wide close up, weakened quickly 4 out, pulled up next
close up, ridden 3 out, weakened next
close up, pushed along and outpaced approaching 3 out, ridden and headway last, kept on
prominent, led 7th, ridden and headed 3 out, kept on one pace
held up, pushed along 8th, in rear when pulled up 3 out
tracked leaders early, soon in rear, reminders 4th, behind from 8th, blundered 2 out
NonRunner
Court Baloo can do little wrong at present but is closely matched with Hastrubal on their latest run together at Kelso. Electron Bleu has only had three runs over hurdles and did better than expected at Cheltenham last month, despite plotting a wide course. Blue Hussar often runs well here but will have stamina to prove while the lack of a recent run may count against Dubai Angel. We’ll take a chance on LISDOONVARNA LAD, a past course winner who has fallen to a very lenient mark. He wasn’t disgraced tried over this trip at Chepstow without being totally convincing.
Electron Bleu (FR) 16-1 (11-6) Raced wide, hit 1st, led to 4th, led again 6th, ridden and headed approaching last, no extra flat, 3rd of 16, 5 1/4l behind Duc De Beauchene (11-6) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp (3) sft in Nov.
Dubai Angel (IRE) 6-1 (11-4) Tracked leaders, ridden and every chance 3 out, keeping on same pace when not fluent last, 4th of 8, 17 1/4l behind Theatrebar (11-5) at Wetherby 2m 4f hcp (3) gd in Mar.
Lisdoonvarna Lad (IRE) 8-1 (11-11) Mid-division on inside, pushed along before 3 out, weakened next, 7th of 16, 15 1/4l behind Eva's Oskar (11-11) at Chepstow 3m hcp (4) gs in Oct.
Presence Felt (IRE) 3-1 (11-12) Went left 1st, made most, awkward and joined 8th, ridden after 3 out, hung left and headed before 2 out, weakened quickly, 6th of 8, dist behind Darling Miss (11-0) at Perth 3m hcp (4) gs in Jun.
Article Fifty (IRE) 8-1 (11-4) Prominent, jumped right at times, fell 4 out, at Ayr 2m 4f hcp (4) hvy in Nov.
Blue Hussar (IRE) 12-1 (10-3) Chased leaders on outside, led approaching 3 out, joined 2 out, headed run-in, no extra in 3rd towards finish, 3rd of 8, 3l behind Sakhee's City (11-8) at Wetherby 2m 4f hcp (3) sft in Nov.
Hastrubal (FR) 7-2 (11-0) Tracked winner, driven before 2 out, ridden between last 2, one pace when not fluent last, kept on, always held, 2nd of 6, 3 3/4l behind Court Baloo (10-5) at Kelso 3m 2f hcp (3) hvy in Nov.
Court Baloo (IRE) 15-8fav (10-5) Made all, driven 3 lengths clear before 2 out, stayed on well, won at Kelso 3m 2f hcp (3) hvy in Nov beating Hastrubal (11-0) by 3 3/4l, 6 ran.
Top Billing 40-1 (11-12) Always behind, weakened 2 out, tailed off, 13th of 14, dist behind Shanroe Al C (11-5) at Perth 3m hcp (4) gd in Apr.
Dubh Des Champs (IRE) 33-1 (10-11) Mid-division, jumped slowly and lost place 7th, behind and struggling 3 out, tailed off, 10th of 12, dist behind March Is On (11-8) at Southwell 3m hcp (4) sft in Oct.
Reve 4-1 (11-12) Close up, pushed along after 3 out, left 3rd from last, no impression, 3rd of 8, 30l behind Ruacana (11-2) at Lingfield 2m 3f hcp (3) hvy in Nov.