prominent until 2nd, chased leaders, outpaced from 5th, well beaten before 4 out, left 4th 3 out, left 2nd 2 out, plugged on
led, mistake and unseated rider 9th
chased leaders, went 2nd after 4th, left in lead 9th, pressed 4 out until fell 2 out
held up in rear, pulled hard, headway 6th, hit next, challenged 4 out, left clear 2 out, ridden out
held up in rear, headway from 8th, left 3rd 3 out, 5 lengths down when left 2nd 2 out, no impression on winner, kept on flat
chased leader until after 4th, left 2nd 9th, 3rd 4 out, 2 lengths off front pair and ridden when fell 3 out
The form of this race should be worth following in the weeks ahead but ECLAIR D’AINAY (NAP) was tremendously impressive when winning by 10 lengths at Chepstow and the second and third have won since. A 14lb rise looks fully justified given there should be plenty more to come from Dan Skelton’s novice. Sao races keenly but didn’t enjoy leading in a jumpers’ bumper at Newcastle last Friday and better is expected. The King Of May spread a plate here last time and can reverse that form with Eragone on a pound better terms while Billingsley was prominent and going well when falling on his reappearance at Doncaster. Financier is preferred to Drumconnor Lad of the others.
Drumconnor Lad (IRE) 100-1 (11-0) Chased leaders on outside, mistake 7th, struggling 11th, well behind when pulled up before 2 out, at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp (1) sft in Dec.
Financier 8-1 (11-8) Held up in rear, bad mistake 2nd, hit 4th, jumped slowly 5th, made some headway before 9th, pushed along when bad mistake 3 out, soon beaten, 7th of 8, 23 1/4l behind Elusive Belle (11-6) at Newbury 2m hcp (3) gd in Nov.
Billingsley (IRE) 6-1 (11-9) Led, jumped right 1st, headed before 7th, upsides when fell 8th, at Doncaster 2m hcp (3) gs in Dec.
Eragone (FR) 25-1 (10-0) Tracked leaders, ridden and slightly outpaced approaching 3 out, rallied on long run to last, switched right flat, ran on to go 2nd close home, 2nd of 5, 1/2l behind First Flow (11-7) at Wetherby 1m 7f hcp (2) hvy in Dec.
Sao (FR) 4-5fav (11-5) Led, ridden and headed over 1f out, no extra well inside final furlong, 5th of 8, 4 1/4l behind Just Call Me Al (11-5) at Newcastle 2m (4) pol in Jan.
The King Of May (FR) 5-1 (10-0) Close up, headway to dispute 2nd approaching 3 out, ridden to lead soon after 2 out, driven and headed towards finish, lost 2nd close home, 3rd of 5, 3/4l behind First Flow (11-7) at Wetherby 1m 7f hcp (2) hvy in Dec.
Eclair D'Ainay (FR) 12-1 (11-8) Jumped well, led 2nd, clear 4 out, easily, won at Chepstow 2m hcp (4) sft in Nov beating Out On The Tear (11-1) by 10l, 9 ran.
