tracked leaders, slow 3rd, mistake 3 out, weakened before next
in touch, mistake 3 out, soon weakened
in touch, headway when mistake 3 out, chased leaders next, weakened before last
settled in rear, headway 4 out, chased leaders next, ridden to challenge 2 out, no extra closing stages
led, keen, headed after 3 out, rallied approaching last, kept on well towards finish
keen, tracked leaders, outpaced 4 out, weakened next soon tailed off
chased leaders, led after 3 out, ran on well
Charbel developed into a smart chaser last season and this is likely a pipe-opener. Zubayr bids to give his yard a fifth win in 11 years but he's become hard to place. Lough Derg Spirit doesn't look overburdened on his handicap debut, however, while London Prize was in excellent form on the Flat over the summer, though probably has something to find on the best of his hurdles form. FLYING TIGER appeared to run very well in a Group 3 on the Flat last month and won the Fred Winter at Cheltenham in March. On a line through last season's top juvenile Defi Du Seuil, he probably has the beating of Coeur de Lion on these terms so gets the nod. Melodic Rendezvous won this back in 2013 but is not the force of old.
Charbel (IRE) 6-5fav (11-4) Led, mistake and headed 7th, pushed along in 3rd before 3 out, ridden and weakened before last, 3rd of 5, 13 1/4l behind San Benedeto (11-4) at Aintree 2m (1) gd in Apr.
Coeur de Lion 5-4fav (9-2) Tracked leaders, ridden to lead over 2f out, headed over 1f out, no extra inside final furlong, 3rd of 16, 2 1/2l behind October Storm (8-6) at York 2m hcp (3) gd in Oct.
Zubayr (IRE) 11-4fav (10-1) Held up towards rear, headway on outside going well over 2f out, led over 1f out, hard pressed inside final furlong, just lost out on the bob post, 2nd of 12, shd behind Azari (10-10) at Haydock 1m 4f hcp (3) gs in Aug.
Flying Tiger (IRE) 33-1 (9-2) Held up towards rear, ridden and headway over 1f out, kept on same pace, 5th of 9, 4 1/2l behind Danehill Kodiac (9-2) at Ascot 1m 4f Grp 3 stks (1) gs in Oct.
Lough Derg Spirit (IRE) 8-1 (11-4) Prominent, led 2nd, not fluent 6th, headed before 7th, lost 2nd from 3 out, 9th and weakening when mistake 2 out, pulled up before last, at Aintree 2m 4f (1) gd in Apr.
Melodic Rendezvous 7-1 (11-12) Led and set steady pace, headed before 4th, chased leaders, 2nd on long run before 3 out until pushed along before 3 out, chased leaders, ridden and weakened before 2 out, 5th of 8, 19l behind Remiluc (11-8) at Newbury 2m hcp (3) sft in Mar.
London Prize 16-1 (9-2) Tracked leading pair, came towards stands side with one other 9f out, soon led that pair, chased winner 4f out, ridden 2f out, not much room towards stands side rail over 1f out, kept on but well held inside final furlong, 2nd of 34, 3 3/4l behind Withhold (8-8) at Newmarket 2m 2f hcp (2) gd in Oct.
