with leader, led 4th, headed after next, led again before 2 out, soon headed, every chance flat, held towards finish
led until slow 4th, led after 3 out, headed before next, no chance with leaders, lost 3rd flat
tracked leaders, not fluent 1st, lost place after next, slow 3rd and 4th, closed after 3 out, no impression on leaders after next
held up in rear, some headway before 2 out, soon no extra, blundered last
in touch, pulled hard, closed after 2nd, no impression on leaders after 2 out, went 3rd flat
chased leaders, not fluent 5th, weakened before 2 out
held up towards rear, jumped left 1st, in touch after 3 out, no impression on leader after next
held up in mid-division, headway 4th, challenged 2 out, soon led, went left and slowed into last, pressed flat, pulled out extra towards finish
NonRunner
Alan King runs two and both go on the short-list. Midnight Maestro looked useful when scoring on his hurdling debut but was never competitive in a better race at Cheltenham - he's surely better than that. Sir Antony Browne receives 6lb from his stable companion on his hurdling debut and two promising bumper runs suggest he's an interesting type now sent jumping. Not Never is a potential improver but the choice is AZZURI. Still a maiden over hurdles, he was competitive when highly tried last term and shaped well enough on his return to action when runner-up at Wetherby. He should too good for this field at his best, although confidence is somewhat tempered by the current low-key form of the normally-prolific Skelton yard.
Midnight Maestro 7-1 (11-4) Mid-division, outpaced after 3 out, well beaten from next, 9th of 12, 29 1/2l behind Pingshou (10-12) at Cheltenham 2m 1f (3) gd in Dec.
Black Anthem (IRE) 20-1 (11-4) Led, headed 6f out, lost place over 2f out, soon weakened, 11th of 13, 23 1/2l behind Cirano De Sivola (11-4) at Warwick 2m (6) sft in Jan.
Black Night (IRE) 16-1 (8-12) Tracked leader over 1f, tracked leading pair, 2nd again inside final 3f until 2f out, chased leaders, weakened inside final furlong, 6th of 9, 8 3/4l behind Prince Of Arran (8-6) at Kempton 1m 4f hcp (3) pol in Nov.
Equleus 66-1 (11-4) Held up towards rear, took keen hold, struggling after 3 out, well behind 2 out, last of 10, dist behind High Secret (11-4) at Taunton 2m (4) gd in Jan.
Magical Thomas 66-1 (11-4) Tracked leaders, took keen hold, wandered into 1st, weakened before 3 out, 11th of 13, dist behind Casper King (11-4) at Exeter 2m 1f mdn (4) sft in Jan.
Master Majic (IRE) 16-1 (11-3) Chased leaders, weakened 4f out, soon behind, 9th of 11, 19 1/4l behind Movewiththetimes (11-3) at Wincanton 1m 7f (6) gs in Apr.
Not Never 7-4 (11-4) Led and soon clear, reduced lead before hit 3 out, pushed along and narrowly headed 2 out, chased winner, hung left after, ridden between last 2, soon no impression, lost 2nd run-in, weakened into 4th close home, 4th of 9, 15l behind Bastien (11-10) at Plumpton 2m (4) sft in Jan.
Sir Antony Browne 9-4fav (10-13) Held up in touch, headway over 4f out, chased leaders over 2f out, every chance over 1f out, stayed on, 3rd of 14, 1 1/4l behind Sam's Adventure (10-13) at Newbury 2m (2) sft in Mar.
Azzuri Evensfav (10-12) Tracked leaders, led 6 out, pressed from 3 out, headed last, kept on and well held, 2nd of 14, 2 3/4l behind Craggaknock (11-5) at Wetherby 2m (4) gs in Dec.
