set steady pace, not fluent and narrowly headed 5th, pressed leader and stayed challenging, ralled gamely run-in to regain lead post
tracked winner, led narrowly 5th and maintained steady pace until quickened 3 out, stayed on gamely run-in, headed post
tracked leading pair 2nd, looked held when blundered last
jumped poorly, tracked leading pair until 2nd, outpaced and struggling from 4th, tried to make ground on flat after 6th, outpaced again when blundered badly again 3 out, tailed off
jumped right and mistakes, tracked leading pair until 2nd, weakening when went right 2 out
LEONCAVALLO went one better than last year's winner Full Day when landing a Class 2 contest at Market Rasen on his latest start. He's now won four in a row, despite being on the small side for a hurdler, and can complete the nap hand here as long as the ground doesn't turn soft. Sceau Royal isn't very big either and needed the help of the stewards to get a verdict over fellow French import Adrien Du Pont at Chepstow having been beaten a short-head. Our Thomas looks more of a hurdling type and overcame inexperience to beat The Lampo Genie a nose over track and trip earlier this month, though is now 4lb worse off. Rio Falls faces a stiff task on his hurdles debut.
Leoncavallo (IRE) 7-4fav (11-6) Always prominent, not fluent 3rd or 3 out, led before 2 out, clear last, ran on well, comfortably, won at Market Rasen 2m 1f (2) gd in Sep beating Pinkie Brown (10-12) by 14l, 7 ran.
Sceau Royal (FR) 11-4fav (11-5) With leader, led before 4 out, hit last, soon pressed and edged right run-in, just held on post, won at Chepstow 2m (4) gd in Oct beating Adrien Du Pont (11-5) by shd, 7 ran.
Our Thomas (IRE) Evensfav (10-12) Held up in touch, headway before 3 out, challenged last, edged left run-in, kept on to lead post, won at Wetherby 2m mdn (5) gs in Oct beating The Lampo Genie (10-12) by ns, 13 ran.
Rio Falls (IRE) 15-8fav (8-13) Tracked leaders, ridden to lead and soon edged right over 1f out, ran on, won at Wolverhampton 1m 1f mdn stks (6) pol in May beating El Tel (8-13) by 1 1/2l, 8 ran.
The Lampo Genie 11-1 (10-12) Tracked leaders, led 2 out, pressed last, ridden run-in, headed post, 2nd of 13, shd behind Our Thomas (10-12) at Wetherby 2m mdn (5) gs in Oct.
