held up towards rear, reminders after 10th, weakened 13th, never on terms, tailed off
chased leader, led after 4th, made rest, in command when left well clear 2 out
chased leaders, hit 10th, went 2nd before 3 out, under pressure and looked held when knuckled over and fell 2 out
took keen hold, raced wide, held up in 5th, poor 6th when blundered and weakened 12th, tailed off
tended to jump left, held up in rear, tailed off 12th, left modest 5th 2 out, went 3rd flat
held up in 6th, pushed along in 5th after 12th, went 4th on inside before 3 out, left modest 3rd and badly hampered 2 out, hit last, weakened to 4th flat
took keen hold, chased leaders, ridden after 12th, hit 4 out and weakened, pulled up before next
led, hit 3rd, headed after next, chased winner, hit 4 out, lost 2nd before 3 out, left modest 2nd next
chased leaders until blundered and unseated rider 3rd
Duke Of Lucca is a useful hurdler with three victories to his credit but though doing little wrong in his two runs over fences he hasn't quite matched his hurdles form so far. Habbie Simpson produced several very good efforts in novice company over timber and was fancied to make a winning start over fences at Ffos Las but fell when there with every chance. Joker Choker, another with a trio of hurdling successes, is bred for chasing and should make his mark but SANG BLEU is the interesting one here and gets the vote. A winner of a bumper and over timber in France, he hasn't shown too much so far for Paul Nicholls but his pedigree is all about chasing and he looks just the type to go on to better things.
Clash Duff (IRE) (12-0) won at Lisgoold 3m ire ptp gd in Mar '10, 0 ran.
Duke Of Lucca (IRE) 15-8 (11-1) Tracked leader, led 11th, hit and headed 12th, led again 3 out, not fluent and headed 2 out, kept on same pace, no chance with winner, 2nd of 4, 12l behind Solix (11-1) at Ascot 2m 5f beg chs (3) gd in Nov.
Habbie Simpson 6-4fav (11-5) Held up, went 3rd 6th, chased winner 11th, pushed along approaching 4 out, 1 1/2 lengths down when unsighted, mistake and unseated rider 3 out, in a race won by Made In Time (10-5) at Ffos Las 2m 3f Novice Limited Handicap Chase (0-135) (4yo+) (3) sft in Nov, 5 ran.
Lord Ragnar (IRE) 50-1 (10-1) Behind, switched outside and headway into mid-division 5th, ridden and outpaced 3 out, weakened next, 21st of 22, well behind Carlito Brigante (10-12) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp hdl Grade 3 (1) gd in Mar.
Master Alfredo 40-1 (11-0) Last pair, rear from 4th, losing touch when not fluent 8th, soon tailed off, pulled up before last, in a race won by Ostland (11-0) at Fontwell 2m 6f beg chase (4) gd in May, 7 ran.
Midnight Sail 12-1 (10-6) Always behind, tailed off when pulled up 2 out, in a race won by Beshabar (11-2) at Ascot 2m 3f hcp hdl (2) gs in Feb '10, 16 ran.
Sang Bleu (FR) 28-1 (10-9) Held up in rear, not fluent 1st, fell 3rd, in a race won by Hell's Bay (11-4) at Cheltenham 2m 5f nov chs G2 (1) gs in Jan, 13 ran.
Webberys Dream 18-1 (11-1) Held up in 5th, ridden after 8th, weakened before next, tailed off, 6th of 7, well behind Easter Meteor (11-1) at Exeter 2m 1f beg chs (4) sft in Nov.
Molly Round (IRE) 11-1 (11-1) Behind until brought down 7th, in a race won by Bless The Wings (11-11) at Exeter 2m 3f nov hcp chs 0-120 (4) gs in Nov, 15 ran.
Joker Choker (IRE) 20-1 (11-12) Mid-division, headway 3 out, chased leaders next, ridden and kept on same pace flat, no impression, 4th of 18, 6l behind Rangitoto (10-11) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-140 (3) gs in Nov.
