bit keen, held up well in rear, closer tracking leaders 5 out, weakened 3 out
chased winner until 5 out, handy 3rd, went 2nd again before next, stayed on same pace, no chance with winner, lost 2nd post
always behind, weakened before 4 out
raced wide, held up in 5th place, closer at 5th, went modest 3rd 3 out, plugged on into 2nd post, no chance with winner
chased leading pair, went 2nd 5 out until next, chased leading pair, ridden and no impression when lost 3rd 3 out, weakened, blundered 2 out and last
jumped well, came clear 4 out, kept on strongly, unchallenged
held up in 4th place until 5th, mistake 8th, weakened 5 out, tailed off
Hawk High has a fine strike-rate of 8-31 and goes well fresh so the lack of a recent run shouldn't pose a problem. Ecu De La Noverie scored over fences in France and has been very consistent since joining Philip Hobbs with a victory over hurdles at Newbury to his credit. DUSTIN DES MOTTES, four times a winner in France, hasn't matched that form in the UK but has competed at a higher level and didn't quite get the run of the race at Newbury early this month so looks the one to beat. Nuts Well hasn't been in the best of form but has raced exclusively at a higher level and has dropped to his lowest-ever mark over fences.
Duke Of Navan (IRE) 16-1 (11-1) Held up in rear, headway to track leaders on inside after 3 out (usual 4 out), pushed along turning in, never on terms, weakened from 2 out, tailed off, 7th of 11, dist behind Saint Calvados (11-12) at Cheltenham 2m hcp (2) hvy in Oct.
Hollywoodien (FR) 9-1 (11-2) Raced keenly, tracked leader, led 5th, clear 7th until pecked 11th, headed before 4 out, lost 2nd 4 out, 3rd and beaten when mistake 2 out, 3rd of 9, 28l behind Thomas Crapper (10-2) at Newbury 2m 4f hcp (1) sft in Mar.
Nuts Well 40-1 (11-9) Held up towards rear, ridden 3 out, left 4th at last, 4th of 6, 25 1/2l behind Hell's Kitchen (11-9) at Carlisle 2m (2) sft in Nov.
Hawk High (IRE) 5-2 (11-6) Chased leaders, not fluent 9th, went 2nd before 3 out, ridden flat, stayed on, led towards finish, won at Newcastle 2m (4) gs in Jan beating Cool Mix (11-0) by 1/2l, 5 ran.
Dustin Des Mottes (FR) 5-1 (11-10) Mid-division on inside, headway chasing leaders 7th, hung left and weakened run-in, 5th of 11, 5 3/4l behind Azzerti (11-12) at Newbury 2m 4f hcp (3) gs in Nov.
Ecu De La Noverie (FR) 5-2fav (12-2) Mid-division, not fluent and slightly lost place 6th, hit 9th, headway 9th, chased leaders before omitted 3 out, went 2nd after bypassing omitted 3 out, one pace in 3rd run-in, 3rd of 13, 4l behind Darebin (11-1) at Kempton 2m 2f hcp (3) gd in Nov.
Niven (IRE) 25-1 (11-0) Held up towards rear on outside, closed 7th, lost place after 12th, 6th of 9, dist behind Crievehill (11-9) at Wetherby 2m 3f hcp (3) gs in Oct.
