held up, headway and chased leaders approaching 2 out, soon ridden, not quicken from approaching last
held up last, ridden 6th, soon weakened, beaten when mistake 2 out
pushed along start, soon prominent, led bend approaching 2 out, hard ridden from last, kept on well
mid-division, headway from 2 out, every chance approaching last, not matched winner flat
led to 1st, soon outpaced, behind and no chance from 3 out, plodded on from 2 out
held up, headway 3 out, ridden approaching 2 out, one pace
held up and never on terms, no impression
mid-division, headway 3 out, soon ridden, weakening when mistake last
chased leader, led after 1st, ridden 6th, headed approaching 2 out, soon beaten
PUNJABI looks the class act here and he is taken to get the better of Songe, Ashkazar and Takeroc. The selection fell in the Christmas hurdle at Kempton on Boxing Day, but he was in with every chance when he came down that day and this looks a good opportunity to restore confidence and get back to winning ways. Songe won well when beating Afsoun at Haydock last time but there is a slight concern about the ground and he is arguably better on a quicker surface. Ashkazar was disappointing last time at Ascot in a race where Songe finished third, but that was his first visit to a racecourse since March and he may have been in need of the run. Paul Nicholls has his string in good form at present so Takeroc, who will go on the ground and who has form at this track, has to enter calculations. However, Nicky Henderson's runners are going well and Punjabi can add to his tally of winners.
Punjabi 11-8fav (11-7) Took keen hold, tracking leaders, led 3 out, slight lead when fell 2 out in race won by Harchibald (11-7) at Kempton 2m hdl Grd 1 (1) gd in Dec, 7 ran.
Songe (FR) 7-1 (11-6) Held up in touch, keen, led after 2 out, ridden and soon under pressure, just driven out, won at Haydock 2m hdl Grd 2 (1) sft in Jan beating Afsoun (11-12) by 1 1/2l, 8 ran.
Ashkazar (FR) 4-1fav (11-12) Chased leaders, ridden after 3 out, weakened quickly approaching last, eased, 17th of 21, 44l behind Sentry Duty (11-9) at Ascot 2m lst hcp hdl (1) gs in Dec.
Whiteoak (IRE) 4-1 (11-1) In rear, headway approaching 2 out, chased winner approaching last, stayed on, 2nd of 8, 1 1/2l behind Elusive Dream (11-8) at Aintree 2m 4f nov hdl Grd 2 (1) gs in Apr.
Ashley Brook (IRE) 12-1 (11-6) Never travelling or jumping with and fluency in rear, hit 6th, blundered next, continued, tailed off, last of 7, 40l behind Fiepes Shuffle (11-0) at Kempton 2m chs Grd 2 (1) gd in Dec.
Five Dream (FR) 9-1 (11-7) Held up behind, steady progress after 3 out, ridden in 5th after 2 out, weakened last, 8th of 15, 50l behind Presenting Copper (10-8) at Cheltenham 2m 1f hcp hdl (2) hvy in Jan.
Simply Blue 20-1 (11-4) Held up, mistake 1st and 2nd, ridden and outpaced 2 out, stayed on flat, 4th of 8, 4l behind Stradbrook (11-12) at Wincanton 2m hcp hdl 0-130 (3) hvy in Jan.
Takeroc (FR) 13-2 (11-4) Held up in rear, hit 7th, 4th and driven after 4 out, weakened from next, 5th of 7, 20l behind Fiepes Shuffle (11-0) at Kempton 2m chs Grd 2 (1) gd in Dec.
Helens Vision 10-1 (11-3) Led, ridden 2 out, headed last, kept on under pressure flat, 3rd of 6, 1 1/2l behind Pagan Starprincess (11-0) at Doncaster 2m hdl Grd 2 (1) sft in Jan.
